ANDREW Marr made his TV comeback today and told viewers he was “lucky to
be alive” after suffering a stroke three months ago.
The presenter said that walking was still difficult and his left arm “isn’t
much good yet” but his voice and memory were unimpaired.
He blamed a combination of overwork and excessive exercise for what happened
to him.
“I had a major stroke, I’m frankly lucky to be alive. I had been heavily
overworking – mostly my own fault – in the year before that,” he said.
“I’d had two minor strokes, it turned out, in that year – which I hadn’t
noticed – and then I did the terrible thing of believing what I read in the
newspapers, because the newspapers were saying what we must all do is take
very intensive exercise, in short bursts, and that’s the way to health.
“Well I went onto a rowing machine and gave it everything I had, and had a
strange feeling afterwards – a blinding headache, and flashes of light –
served out the family meal, went to bed, woke up the next morning lying on
the floor unable to move.
“And what I’d done, I’d torn the carotid artery, which takes blood into the
brain, and had a stroke overnight – which basically wipes out a bit of your
brain.
“In my case, luckily not my voice or memory or anything like that, but the
whole left hand side of my body, which is why I’m still not able to walk
fluently – I do a kind of elegant hobble is the best I can manage; my left
arm isn’t much good yet. I’ve got a lot of physio still to do.”
Marr pre-recorded interviews with the Conservative former Cabinet minister
Lord Parkinson and the Labour peer Baroness Kennedy yesterday at
Broadcasting House.
The live section of the programme continues to be hosted by guest presenters,
with news reader Sophie Raworth standing in today.
Marr assured her however that he remained determined to return to full-time
duties.
“The only way through is intensive physio and doing a lot of it. And I’m now
in the period where if I really concentrate on the physio, I will get
better, and if I don’t, I won’t. Which is why I’m not back trying to do the
job full-time, I have to say,” he said.
“I’m going to be taking your chair I’m absolutely sure, when I’m ready. I’m
certainly coming back. I’ve got a lot more to say about it all, but I’m
going to wait until I’ve gone through the physio to do so.”
myView
By CAROL COOPER, Sun Doctor
EXERCISE is good for health, while a lack of it INCREASES the risk of a
stroke.
But few things in life are all good or all bad, and exercise can work both
ways. Blood pressure rises temporarily. Listen to your body. If you
experience pain, dizziness or chest tightness during or shortly after
exercise, STOP.
Consult your doc or practice nurse if you are worried your regime is too
vigorous.