Oklahoma AgrAbility Newsletter
Summer 2004 • Volume 3 • Issue 3
Are You At Risk for a Stroke?
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NOTE: Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Oklahoma State University, Langston University or the National AgrAbility Project and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.
In This Issue
Oklahoma Farmer Successfully Adapts Farming Operation and Home
General Guidelines for Preventing a Stroke
Assisitive Devices for the Farm/Ranch
Are You At Risk for a Stroke?
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States. According to the National Stroke Association, 40% of stroke survivors experience moderate to severe impairments that require special care. The possibility of returning to farm work, living at home, and doing valued leisure activities can be challenging. In addition, the lives of spouses, children and friends who care for stroke survivors are also personally affected. In this issue of the Oklahoma AgrAbility newsletter, we are sharing information about strokes as well as general guidelines for reducing the risk of a second stroke. We especially encourage you to read the story of one Oklahoma farmer who is working his way back into the family farming operation after a stroke three years ago through the use of adaptive technologies and other strategies.
Best Wishes,
Rachael Kircher, AgrAbility Project Coordinator
Carla Wilhite, OT/L, AgrAbility Program Specialist
Oklahoma Farmer Successfully Adapts Farming Operation and Home
Gene Mikles a wheat, cattle, and hay farmer in western Oklahoma suffered a stroke three years ago, impairing his right side. He spent several weeks in rehabilitation regaining his speech, strength, range of motion, and balance. He also re-learned to walk, using a cane, before being discharged to go home.
Before Gene’s stroke he was fully involved in the daily operation of the farm, including the heavy physical labor. Gene missed the farm work and knew increased work pressures had been placed on his son who farms with him. Gene added a bulk cube feeder to his flatbed work pickup, which is operated from inside the pick-up cab. He also purchased a Hydra Bed (additional information on page 4), allowing him to lift and carry round bales using hydraulic controls located in the cab. Although he became more involved in the winter work through the use of these technologies, he missed being on the tractor.
Gene was referred to the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project by an occupational therapist who was helping Gene increase his mobility and use of his right side. Carla Wilhite, the AgrAbility specialist, made an on-site farm visit and worked with him to make a prioritized, detailed list of the barriers he was experiencing as a result of his stroke. Gene’s goal was to safely mount and operate his tractor. Carla felt certain that Gene had good potential to return to operating the equipment because he did not have any significant cognitive or visual impairment that would interfere with his driving ability. Gene was referred to the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) for vocational rehabilitation services.
Once Gene was determined eligible for services, his counselor Nancy Smith, worked diligently and carefully with Gene to make sure he was prepared for returning to work involving the use of his tractor. Because Gene has diabetes, Nancy also made sure he had appropriate visual and podiatric services as well as continuing rehabilitation to improve his work endurance. Gene was then fitted for an ankle foot orthosis (ankle stabilizer) as well as a Lofstrand crutch to assist him in walking on rougher field ground.
Oklahoma AgrAbility and DRS then worked together to determine what appropriate accommodations would be needed to enable Gene to access and operate the tractor. The decision was made by DRS to fund and obtain a commercially-fabricated platform lift from Life Essentials, Inc (contact information on page 4). Once the lift was installed, Gene was able to safely access the driver’s platform of the tractor. Tractor operation was improved by adding a spinner knob on the steering wheel and Gene had enough arm function to operate the right-sided controls in the tractor. A fellow farmer rode next to Gene in an operator’s training seat to ensure Gene was operating the tractor safely. The installation was completed just in time for Gene to help his son finish preparing the fields for drilling wheat this fall.
Moving around his home presented additional challenges. Gene and his wife, Sheryl, also made their home more accessible. Entrances to the home were redesigned with ramping and flat thresholds. The bathroom area was remodeled to include a higher commode, wheelchair accessible sink, a zero-grade walk-in shower spa, and grab bars. The family also added an enclosed double garage that features a ground-level tornado safe room, an office, and allows Gene to store his work truck and family vehicle inside during inclement weather.
What is a stroke?
A stroke or brain attack occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel or artery, or when a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain.
When a brain attack occurs, it kills brain cells in the immediate area. Doctors call this area of dead cells an infarct. These cells usually die within minutes to a few hours after the stroke starts.
When brain cells die, control of abilities which that area of the brain once controlled are lost. This includes functions such as speech, movement, and memory. The specific abilities lost or affected depend on where in the brain the stroke occurs and on the size of the stroke (i.e., the extent of brain cell death).
Source: National Stroke Association
General Guidelines for Preventing a Stroke
Know your blood pressure. High blood pressure is the leading cause of stoke. Check it annually and regulate as needed with medication, diet, and exercise.
Find out if you have atrial fibrillation. Atrial Fibrillation is an irregular heart beat that allows blood to collect in the chambers of your heart. This blood tends to clot and the beating of your heart can move the clots through the system and cause a stroke. Doctors can evaluate your pulse to determine if you have AF, it can also be confirmed with an ECG. AF can be controlled with medication.
Stop Smoking. Smoking doubles your risk for stroke. The risk for strokes immediatly decreases when you stop smoking.
Drink alcohol in moderation. Studies show that two glasses a day can reduce your risk for a stroke. More than this each day can increase your risk by as much as three times and can have other damaging effects on your body.
Do you have high cholesterol? High cholesterol may increase your risk for a stroke. It can be controlled with diet, exercise, and in some cases medication.
Control your diabetes. Follow your doctor’s recommendations and pay careful attention to what you eat. Diabetes can be controlled with lifestyle changes, nutrition, and medicine.
Exercise. Try to establish a daily routine that includes a brisk walk for at least 30 minutes. Exercise with a friend for motivation. You may also want to bike, golf, swim, dance, take aerobics, or any other brisk activities.
Enjoy a diet low in sodium and fat. Cutting down on salt and fat may help lower your blood pressure and your risk for stroke. Set a goal to eat a balanced diet including fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein.
Circulation problems. Ask your doctor if you have circulation problems that may increase your risk for stroke. If you have blood problems such as sickle cell disease, severe anemia, or other diseases, work with your doctor to manage the disease. If left untreated these can cause strokes. Circulation problems can be controlled with medication and occasionally surgery.
Stroke Association, 1999, http://199.239.30.192/NationalStroke/StrokePrevention/default.htm
Stroke Facts
Stroke, or brain attack, touches the lives of four out of every five American families. More than 750,000 Americans will experience stroke this year; 160,000 of them will die. Of the 4 million stroke survivors, two-thirds of them struggle with disabilities ranging from moderate to severe. Consider this:
- Every 45 seconds, someone in the United States will suffer a stroke.
- Stroke kills more women each year than breast cancer.
- Stroke is the third leading cause of death in this country.
- Stroke can occur at any age.
- Stroke costs this country $30 billion annually.
- African Americans are twice as likely to suffer a stroke as Caucasians.
Source: National Stroke Association, http://www.stroke.org
Symptoms of a Stroke
If you have any stroke symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
- Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg - especially on one side of body.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Stroke Support Groups
Citywide Stroke Support Group
St. Anthony Hospital
Oklahoma City, OK 73101
405-272-6554
Bob McVay Aphasia Support Group
Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation
Oklahoma City, OK 73109
405-644-5483
BPR Stroke Survivors Group
4100 Adams Rd., Suite A-100
Bartlesville, OK 74006
918-331-9922
Stroke Survivors Club
American Heart Association
2865 E. Skelly Dr., Ste. 100-S
Tulsa, OK 74105
918-747-8254
Stroke Center of Western Oklahoma
PO Box 1569
Clinton, OK 73601
580-323-8337
Tractor Lift Resources
Freedom Technologies, Incorporated
#3-2949 Miners Avenue
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K4Z6
306-244-1508
Life Essentials, LLC
8796 S US 231
Brookston, Indiana 47923
765-742-6707
SFH Products, Incorporated
1801 E Medlock Dr
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
888-224-1425
Plans and ideas are available for self manufactured lifts through the Breaking New Ground Resource Center Tool Kit, Oklahoma AgrAbility has a copy available for clients.
Assistive Devices for the Farm/Ranch
Hydra Feeder™
Designed to solve problems associated with range and bunk feeding of supplement to cattle. The HydraFeeder™ is designed to be loaded onto and unloaded from the HydraBed® by the bale handling arms. 1-800-530-5624
Hydra Bed®
Hauling, unrolling, or rack feeding your heaviest round bales becomes a simple and safe task. 1-800-530-5624
Quick-Hitch
Attaches to the tractor 3-point allowing you to easily hook on to implements, without leaving the tractor seat. 785-823-3276
This newsletter was supported in part by USDA-CSREES grant award number 2002-41590-01370.