These questions help you understand important areas of health after a stroke. The questions are divided into medical health (for example: tests and medication), good health (for example: managing risk factors like high blood pressure). and mental health (for example: check if we are feeling sad or worried)
- Read through the questions for you and your caregiver. You can also ask someone to read them with you.
- Think about the questions you do not have the answers to.
- Write down the steps you will take to find the answers, such as asking your health care team or those around you.
- Download and/or print the questions and answers using the download button. To save your responses, select “Print to PDF” as the print option.
- Think about other questions you have and write them down.
- Review other sections when you are ready.
Medical
Understanding Stroke
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Do I know what the symptoms of a stroke are?
Do I know what to do if I think I am having a stroke?
Do I know what kind of stroke I had?
Do I know what caused my stroke?
Do I know my risk factors for a stroke?
Do I know how to lower my risk for another stroke?
Do I have a plan in place if I have an emergency?
Tests
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Do I know the types of tests the doctor has ordered?
Do I know why I need the tests?
Do I understand the results of the tests I have had?
Are there any other tests I think I need?
Medications
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Do I have the list of medications I need to take?
Do I know how each medication helps me?
Do I know how my medications interact with one another and/or with the food I eat?
Do I know how and when to take each medication (for example: with meals, injection, or crushed)?
Do I need reminders to take my medication?
Do I need a way to organize the medications I take (for example: a blister pack or pill organizers)?
Does the pharmacy I use deliver medications to the home?
Advance Care Planning
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Are my care wishes written down (living will) and/or known by my family/loved ones?
Have I legally named a Power of Attorney for personal care and property?
Do I have a will?
Do my loved ones know where my important documents are located (e.g. Power of Attorney, living will)?
Good Health
Atrial Fibrillation
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Do I have symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
Do I need to be tested for atrial fibrillation?
Do I know what my medications are to manage my atrial fibrillation?
Do I know how exercise affects my atrial fibrillation?
Do I know who to speak with about atrial fibrillation?
Blood Pressure
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Do I know what my target blood pressure should be?
Do I know how often my blood pressure should be checked?
Do I know what I can do to control high blood pressure?
Do I know how exercise affects my blood pressure?
Do I know what foods will affect my blood pressure?
Do I know what my daily sodium (salt) limit should be?
Do I know if I should be on blood pressure medication?
Do I have a way to check my blood pressure (for example: my own blood pressure machine or ones at the pharmacy)?
Cholesterol
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Do I know what my cholesterol levels should be?
Do I know what makes my cholesterol levels go up?
Do I know what I can do to lower my cholesterol levels?
Should I be taking medication to lower my cholesterol?
Do I know who to speak with about my cholesterol levels?
Diabetes
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What should my blood sugar targets be?
Do I know how to check my blood sugars and how often I should be checking them (for example: use glucometer kit)?
Do I know what medications I should be taking to control my blood sugars and when to take them?
Do I know how to control my blood sugar levels?
Do I know what to do if my blood sugar level gets too low or too high?
Do I know what can cause high or low blood sugars?
Am I cooking and eating the right foods to manage my blood sugars?
Do I know who to speak with about my blood sugar levels?
Healthy Eating
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Do I need to change the way I eat to help prevent another stroke?
Do I know what a well-balanced meal is?
Do I eat well-balanced meals?
Do I know how to prepare healthy meals?
Do I need help preparing my meals?
Healthy Weight
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Do I know what a healthy weight is for me?
Do I know how to lose weight if I need to?
Do I know how to gain weight if I need to?
Do I have a plan for how best to get to a healthy weight?
Exercise
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Am I getting enough exercise?
Am I doing exercises that are safe for me?
Do I need help so the exercises I enjoy are safer to do?
Do I know where to find exercise programs that are right for me?
Alcohol
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Do I know how alcohol can increase my risk of stroke?
Is it safe to drink alcohol if I am taking medication?
Do I need help managing how much alcohol I drink?
Being Smoke Free
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Do I know why smoking increases my risk of stroke?
Am I ready to quit smoking?
Do I have the support I need to continue being smoke-free?
Do I know where to find help to stop smoking?
Sleep Apnea
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Has anyone ever told me that I stop breathing or gasp when I am asleep?
Do I always feel tired or doze off during the day?
Do I know who to talk to about getting tested for sleep apnea?
Do I know what treatment is best for me to manage sleep apnea?
Mental Health
Depression
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Have I lost interest in things I used to enjoy?
Have I noticed any changes in my mood, how I act or behave?
Am I sleeping more than usual or have trouble sleeping?
Am I easily irritable or frustrated?
Do I feel less motivated or interested in doing things?
Has my appetite changed?
Do I have difficulty concentrating?
Do I feel alone, angry, scared or hopeless?
Have I had thoughts about ending my life?
Do I know where to get help if I answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above?
Managing the Effects of Stroke
Cognition and Perception
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Do I have trouble with my memory?
Can I focus and think clearly?
Can I make sense of what I see around me?
Do I know what strategies to use for my memory?
Do I need any memory aids?
Do I know what strategies to use to see and find things better?
Do I need any visual aids?
Do I know where to find help if I'm not coping with these changes?
Pain
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Does pain limit or stop me from doing the things I need or like to do?
Do I know what to do if my pain is causing other problems (for example: anxiety, poor appetite, mobility, memory problems, sleep issues)?
Do I know what to do if my pain gets worse, is more frequent, or lasts longer?
If I have pain, do I know what medications I can take?
Fatigue and Sleep
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Do I have trouble sleeping?
Am I worried, anxious or is my mind racing when I am trying to rest?
Am I too tired to do the things I need to do or enjoy?
Do I know what I can do to sleep better?
Swallowing Difficulties
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Do I have trouble chewing or swallowing?
Do I know ways to be safe when eating (for example: sitting up, clearing food from mouth)?
Do I need food softened, minced or pureed so I can swallow safely?
Do I need drinks thickened so I can swallow safely?
If I have a feeding tube, do I know how to manage it?
For the caregiver: Do I know how to help my loved one if they need help with any of the above?
Aphasia and Communication
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Can I communicate my needs and wishes so that I am understood?
Can my family and friends communicate with me?
Do I know how to tell people that I have difficulty communicating?
Can I join in on social situations?
Do I need any supports to help me communicate (for example: a computer, communication board, aphasia group)?
Questions to ask yourself in your recovery
As you re-engage in your community, there may be things you need to consider. Click on any image for questions that can help you think about what you need during your recovery.
