Last year, at the age of 61, writer Aaron Sorkin suffered a stroke that left him slurring his words for a month and having problems typing.
After noting he was bumping into things and dropping his drink, the creator of The West Wing went to the doctor.
He said that he was “OK” but described the incident as a “loud wake-up call.”
“I believed I was one of those people who could eat anything they wanted and smoke as much as they wanted without consequence. I was so incorrect.”
Sorkin is well-known for penning the screenplays for A Few Good Men, Steve Jobs, and The Trial of the Chicago 7 in addition to The Social Network, for which he earned an Academy Award.
He told the New York Times that he first sensed anything was amiss when he awoke in the middle of the night but slammed into walls and corners, and the next morning he kept spilling orange juice.
Aaron Sorkin visited his doctor, who informed him that his blood pressure was so high that “you should be dead.” He was informed he had a stroke.
After about a month, the majority of his symptoms improved, although he was unable to sign his name until recently and still cannot taste food adequately.
Following the stroke, he quit smoking, adjusted his nutrition, and began exercising twice daily. He stated that he takes “a lot of medication” and added,
“You can hear the pills rattling around inside of me.”
Sorkin explained that he chose to discuss his story in the hope that others may benefit. “If it helps one person quit smoking, then it will be beneficial,” he told the newspaper.
Based on the mythology of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, he has recently been reworking the 1960 Broadway musical Camelot.
Sorkin stated,
“There was a time when I feared that I might never be able to write again.” I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to continue writing Camelot in the near future.
Aaron Sorkin then added:
“Let me clarify this point thoroughly. I’m fine. I don’t want everyone to think I am incapable of working. I’m fine.”
How to recognize a stroke
- Face – may be sagging on one side, unable to smile, or the mouth or eye may be sagging.
- Arms – may not be able to raise and maintain both arms in the air.
- Speech – may be slurred or garbled, or the individual may be unable to speak; they may also have difficulty comprehending you.
- Acute weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including the legs, arms, and/or hands.
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes; abrupt memory loss or confusion; dizziness or a sudden fall; a sudden strong headache.
- The symptoms of a mini-stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack) are identical, but only last for up to 24 hours. A TIA should be treated immediately because it is frequently a precursor to a full-blown stroke.
How to minimize your risk
- Do not routinely consume excessive alcohol
- Stop smoking – smoking doubles the chance of dying from a stroke, but the risk decreases immediately after quitting.
- Consume nutritious food and maintain a healthy weight.
- Take frequent exercise
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