recovery after stroke

Learn the STARS plan for recovery after a stroke, and make sure physical therapy starts early.

Becoming active again as soon as possible is key for stroke recovery.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. after heart disease and cancer, but is nevertheless survivable. Many stroke sufferers recover fully to live happy, healthy lives for years afterward. But care needs to be taken to boost the odds of a good recovery after a stroke, as a new study finds that stroke survivors are at higher risk of another stroke, heart disease, and death.

THE DETAILS: Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina studied the records of 10,399 hospital patients who had a stroke in that state in 2002. The average age of the patients was 69. After one year, 25 percent of the patients had died, and 8 percent had suffered another stroke. After four years, 50 percent had either had another stroke, had a heart attack, or died.

Read on to find out how stroke survivors can tilt the odds in their favor.