Hi. We have our monthly catch up on Sunday at 7. As well as the usual opportunity to catch up Maggie and I wanted to use this as an opportunity to get your thoughts on where we should take our community. What can we add in here that would make it more useful for you? Whom should this group be for? Who are we seeking to help? It would be great to get your thoughts to guide our next steps. Thanks. Nik

Sleep is an important but often overlooked factor in stroke risk. Sleep is not a luxury. It is an important pillar of stroke prevention, alongside: • Blood pressure control • Physical activity • Healthy diet • Smoking cessation • Managing conditions such as atrial fibrillation and diabetes Research shows a U-shaped relationship between sleep and stroke risk.In simple terms, both too little and too much sleep are linked to a higher risk of stroke. Large population studies suggest that sleeping less than 6 hours or more than 9 hours regularly is associated with increased cardiovascular and stroke risk, with around 7–8 hours per night being the optimal range for most adults. 📉 Short Sleep (Less than 6 hours) Short sleep is associated with a higher risk of stroke and may contribute through: • Higher blood pressure • Increased inflammation and oxidative stress • Impaired blood vessel function • Increased risk of atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and high cholesterol 📈 Long Sleep (More than 9 hours) Long sleep is also linked to higher stroke risk. It is often a marker of underlying health issues rather than a direct cause, and may be associated with: • Poor sleep quality • Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) • Underlying medical conditions • Lower levels of daytime activity ⚠️ Sleep Is Not Just About Time Sleep quality matters just as much as sleep duration. Other sleep problems linked to stroke risk include: - Snoring and sleep apnoea - Insomnia - Excessive daytime sleepiness - Poor sleep quality - Irregular sleep patterns 🌅 Daily Habits to Improve Your Sleep ☀️ Morning - Set Your Body Clock • Get natural daylight within 30–60 minutes of waking • Wake up at the same time every day (even weekends) • Delay your first coffee by 60–90 minutes • Move your body even a 15–20 minute walk helps ☀️ Daytime - Protect Your Sleep • Stop caffeine by early afternoon (around 1–2 pm) • If you nap, keep it short (20–30 minutes) and before 3 pm • Take small breaks to manage stress during the day

Just a reminder that we have our check in at 6pm today. Chance to catch up reconnect, check your blood pressure and chat about all things stroke prevention. Just click the link in the calendar section of the app/website.

At the group I am organising speaker's from time to time Can anyone recommend anyone who would eto come along .