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

I hope 2026 is treating you all well so far. This year, we’re changing how we share our stroke-prevention tips. Instead of one tip every other day, we’ll now be sharing three simple, practical ways to reduce your stroke risk every Sunday. Each week, we encourage you to pick just one of the three to focus on, and commit to starting it first thing on Monday morning. The real power here is in supporting each other. Let the group know: ✔️Which change you’re choosing ✔️How you’re planning to make it stick Then, as the week goes on, keep us posted on how you’re getting on. At the weekend, take a moment to reflect on what you’ve learned — what worked, what didn’t, and what you’d tweak next time. With consistent effort and each other’s support, we can embed healthier habits week by week. And over 52 weeks, those small changes can add up to a huge impact on our long-term health.

Morning all, i'm approaching 6 months since my stroke, and just after some advice please, I have requested a cholesterol blood test and wanted to know what other tests I should be requesting. I thought my GP would be contacting and monitoring, but heard nothing. Thanks

Good afternoon. I have some exciting news. My colleague Dr Ali Sheikh is hosting a stroke prevention seminar on Friday the 30th January at Aintree hospital, Liverpool 9am to 5pm. There will be some high profile speakers talking about stroke prevention. We'd love it if you can attend. I think there will be face to face and online options. We're also looking for 2 stroke survivors to talk briefly and share their story with the audience of anyone is willing to volunteer. Have a great evening. Nik

Chronic stress is a major cause of stroke and is one of the 10 factors identified by the INTERSTROKE study that cause 90% of strokes. However, most people have no way to catch rising stress. We usually spot it when it's too late. So today's tip: Once a day ask yourself: “Am I reacting more than I’m responding?” If yes → use 30 seconds of slow breathing or a short walk. It’s a simple cue that interrupts stress-driven cortisol surges. Then use the headspace you've bought to do something constructive that will meaningfully reduce your stress going forward. Tackle the underlying cause of your stress.