Happy Sunday! This week we’re focusing on calming the nervous system, improving sleep, and protecting our blood vessels. Pick ONE of the challenges below and commit to it from Monday. Share in the group what you’re choosing and how you’ll make it stick 👇 🧘 1️⃣ Mindfulness Reset Stress and depression more than double your stroke risk. Perhaps you can do something to give you some time back and take the edge off it. Do 5 minutes of slow breathing or mindfulness each day Try: - Box breathing (4-4-4-4) - Physiological sigh (2 short inhales + long exhale) - A quiet 5-minute body scan before bed Why it matters: lowers stress hormones, reduces blood pressure, improves focus and emotional regulation. 😴 2️⃣ Sleep Upgrade Protect your sleep window this week Choose one: ✅ Go to bed 30 minutes earlier ✅ No screens for 30 minutes before sleep ✅ Keep your bedroom cool & dark ✅ Avoid caffeine after 2pm Why it matters: poor sleep increases blood pressure, insulin resistance, and weight, whilst making it harder to eat healthy and exercise and worsens our mood - all of which add up to greater stroke risk 🩺 3️⃣ Know Your Numbers Check your blood pressure. If you don't have a home blood pressure monitor think about getting one. - Measure at home or at a pharmacy - Take 2 readings morning & evening for 3 days - Record the average Targets: ✔ Ideal: <120/80 ✔ Acceptable: <130/80 ✔ Take action: ≥135/85 (home readings) If elevated repeatedly, speak to your GP and begin lifestyle changes. Why it matters: High blood pressure is the #1 modifiable cause of stroke. 💬 Action step: Post in the group: ✅ Which challenge you’re doing ✅ When you’ll do it ✅ What might get in the way (and your plan to avoid anything stopping you) Small actions, repeated weekly lead to a massive lifetime impact.

Morning all The pain in my left hand got so bad last night that I struggled to sleep. I had to remove my wedding ring at one point. I’ve been prescribed amitrypiline but I don’t like taking i. It does relieve the pain. But the affect it has in me the next day is horrific. Tends to take me 6/8 hours to come around. I was told to try Viltarol last week. Any other suggestions. It’s certainly getting worse worse

👋 Welcome to the Stroke-Proof Community! We’re building something special here — a movement to prevent 1 million strokes. To make this a safe, supportive, and inspiring place, we ask every member to live by this simple pledge: 🫶 Our Community Pledge ✔️ Respect first — we’re survivors, families, doctors, and prevention-minded people. Everyone’s story matters. ✔️Engage with with group. This isn't about one doctor lecturing a group. We all have important information and experience to share. ✔️ Evidence over hype — we share strategies backed by science, not fads or fear. To help others tell the difference we cite our sources, even if the source is just personal experience. ✔️ No diagnoses or prescriptions — support each other, but leave medical decisions to your own doctor or message me for a private consultation. ✔️ Protect privacy — what’s shared here, stays here. ✔️ No spam — we’re here to help, not hustle. ✔️ Stay positive & constructive — we’re here to build each other up and take real action. ✔️ Share the message - If you think this group has the potential to help you or others to avoid having a stroke, please share a link to others to join us.

A question please. Does anyone else have regular botox injections in their affected side, to help combat nerve pain and spasticity? I've been having them for 2 years now every 4 months or so, and do find they help. Just wondered whetherothers have them and find them helpful. Your colleague Dr Colin Pinder has a clinic at clatterbridge, so I see him there. Hope everyone has had a good start to the year and is doing as well as possible. Happy weekend all and keep smiling Andy

Hello everyone , Our new challenge starts tomorrow! You don’t need to change everything at once. Pick one simple habit to focus on. At the end of the week, take a moment to reflect on how it went and how it felt. Even tiny progress is worth celebrating ! If you feel comfortable, please feel free to share which habit you chose, how you planned to stick with it, and how it went by the end of the week . Your story might inspire someone else to take a small step too ! This week’s options: 💓 Know your numbers: Check your blood pressure on 5 days this week and calculate your average. Seeing your numbers can help you spot patterns and keep your heart and brain healthy. 🚶 Move after meals: Take a 5–10 minute walk after a meal each day. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, whatever works best for you. Even a short walk helps your blood sugar, circulation, and mood. 🥦 Eat more vegetables: Add an extra portion of vegetables at your meals. Fresh, pre-chopped, or frozen all count, any way that works for you is great. Reflection: How did it feel to practise this habit this week? What worked well, and what was challenging?