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?

Yesterday, I took a huge step and small win in my stroke prevention journey. Before Christmas, I requested a face-to-face appointment with my doctor to discuss blood tests. My GP practice has more locums than resident doctors, so I chose to wait until I could see a resident. I made sure I was fully prepared and rehearsed what I wanted to say, knowing I would likely face some pushback. At the appointment, I explained that I was concerned I’d had my stroke back in May and hadn’t received any follow-up communication or blood test requests from the practice. I told the doctor I wanted to take ownership of managing my blood tests. I presented my list and was told that my cholesterol had been checked in the hospital in May and is usually checked yearly. I politely pushed back, explaining that my cholesterol medication had since changed and that, as a stroke survivor, it should be monitored at least every six months. After playing my Dr Nikhil Sharma card, we agreed on six-monthly testing. We then went through the rest of my list, and by the end of the appointment, I had approval for all 11 blood tests—most of them to be repeated every six months. My advice to anyone: empower yourself with knowledge, and never be afraid to politely push back and ask questions.

Thanks to everyone that joined the catch up this evening. It was a delight to meet you. I know all 3 of you are relatively early on in your Stroke journeys and you are doing incredibly well. I look forward to continuing to get to know you and seeing how you get on. If there is anything else we can do to make this community and its resources more useful for you to support you please feel free to comment below. Happy New Year!

Good afternoon. Just a quick reminder that we've got an online catch up at 6pm. You can join through the calendar section in the app. Hope to see you there!

Feeling overwhelmed? Life moves quickly, and stress often sneaks in without warning. When it does, pause, take a deep breath, and try this simple technique to bring your mind back to the present and protect your health. The 5-4-3-2-1 Method 👀 5 things you can see Take a slow look around. Notice colors, shapes, patterns, light. ✋ 4 things you can touch Feel the texture of your clothes, a chair, a blanket, or the floor beneath your feet. 👂 3 things you can hear Tune in to birds, distant traffic, soft hums, or your own breathing. 👃 2 things you can smell Breathe in the scents around you: coffee, fresh air, a candle, or something nearby. 👅 1 thing you can taste Sip water, or simply notice the natural taste in your mouth. ✅ Why It Works • Interrupts racing thoughts • Encourages slower, deeper breathing • Calms the body’s stress response • Easy to do anywhere, anytime in under a minute. 🌿 Managing stress lowers blood pressure, reduces inflammation, and supports healthier daily habits, all essential for reducing stroke risk. ✨ Take a moment today to ground yourself. A one-minute reset can shift the tone of your entire day.