Sharon's Hands

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David Miller had made a quick trip to Cambodia in May 2010 for a board meeting at a local orphanage. But he never showed up for the 9 a.m. meeting.

We know the best way to minimize the risk of stroke is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But for many of us, 8 hours or more are spent in an office - not exactly the place for physical activity.  But there are ways we can increase our physical activity at work while staying productive.

These tips can help you combat a sedentary office culture. Try a few and we guarantee you’ll notice an increase in energy and a more positive attitude. 

Walking meetings - Need to brainstorm ideas or have a quick huddle with a few coworkers? Walking and talking in the fresh air can really get the blood flowing, and better circulation leads to better idea generation.

Sit on a ball - Yoga balls or balance balls may look uncomfortable to sit on, but parking yourself on a ball - even for an hour - can help improve posture and strengthen your core. Start out in 15 minute increments and increase the time as you begin to build abdominal strength. 

After work recreation - If your company has a softball or kickball team, join in! If not, talk to your coworkers about starting a weekly game. Not only does team activities promote camaraderie, they also get you moving. 

Stand up! - Stand up desks are becoming prevalent in offices across the country as people look for ways to increase their activity while at work. Studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time can be extremely detrimental to your health. A stand up desk gives you the option of getting your normal work done while while standing. A stand up desk is just a simple platform that raises and lowers so you can easily switch between a sitting and standing position. 

The American Heart Association shares what you can do to reduce your risk of stroke, even if you’re living with high blood pressure or atrial fibrillation. 

Don’t smoke.

Get regular physical activity.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Limit alcohol to no more than two drinks a day for men or one drink a day for women. 

Eat a healthy diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, include low-fat dairy products and limit salt, saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol.

Monitor your blood pressure and work to keep it at your goal.

Take your medication as prescribed if you have high blood pressure or atrial fibrillation.

With Amazon Smile, you can automatically provide a donation to the charity of your choice with every eligible purchase you make on Amazon. It’s easy - all you have to do is designate your charity of choice (Sharon’s Hands is an eligible 501(c)(3) organization) and shop as you normally would at smile.amazon.com. It’s the same shopping experience with the same prices as the regular Amazon, but with the added bonus of supporting your favorite charity.  

Meet Amber Thomas (striped shirt).

On Super Bowl Sunday at the age of 13, Amber had a stroke. Fortunately, her grandfather was present and knew the warning signs. He was able to put her through a series of tests to assist the paramedics when they arrived.    

Her symptoms included slurred speech, drooping face and headaches. She also experienced slight tremors on her left side.

When she arrived at the hospital (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia), her braces had to be removed to do an MRI which made her head hurt.

Amber’s major symptoms dissolved quickly, although she suffered long term headaches that were worse in the mornings and had residual numbness.

In order to progress with her class, Amber attended schools for half-days. She had to give up sports for several months, but was able to practice with her team by the end of the year and play in the following season.

According to Amber, the experience made her work harder; she didn’t want to fall behind. 

Today, Amber is an honor roll student and will be attending Drexel University in the fall for Biomedical Engineering. She hopes to make the softball team.