Anti-depressants Help Recovery After Stroke

A research has suggested that anti-depressants could speed up recovery after stroke.

A research has suggested that anti-depressants could speed up recovery after stroke. It also helps reduce dependence, physical disability, depression and anxiety in the first year after a stroke.

They could also promote the growth of new nerve cells or protect other cells damaged by stroke, suggest researchers from University of Edinburgh.

Quiz on Stroke
Stroke is the third leading cause of death world over. Besides, it also disables the affected people, making them completely dependent on caregivers for their daily needs. Lifestyle greatly affects the chances of developing a stroke. Thus, the incidence of stroke can be brought down to a great extent by leading a healthy lifestyle. Here is a quiz that tests if you know enough about this disabling condition.

They examined 52 studies concerning selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a class of anti-depressants.

Gillian Mead, professor of stroke at the university, said: "Anti-depressants have been successfully used for many years to relieve depression. However, it now appears that they also have effects on the brain that may help patients make a better recovery from the physical effects of stroke."

"The results of this meta-analysis are extremely promising. We do not yet fully understand how anti-depressants could boost recovery after stroke, but it may be because they promote the growth of new nerve cells in the brain, or protect cells damaged by stroke," said Mead, The Daily Mail reports.

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Few tips that could help you to manage depression. It is ok to be moody once in a while but if you feel moody for a longer period of time then it could be depression.

She said that by preventing depression, the drugs may help patients to be more physically active which is known to aid overall recovery.

"We now need to carry out a number of much larger clinical trials in order to establish exactly if, how and to what extent anti-depressants can help stroke survivors recover."

Top 10 Facts on Stroke
Strokes occur when the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. It is imperative to detect the signs of a stroke and rush the patient to the hospital at once. Here are some interesting facts on stroke.

Source-IANS

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