Hi, a couple of years after my stroke a friend told me to gargle. He seemed to know what he was talking about and I now gargle with mouthwash every day. Apart from improved dental hygiene I wonder if it has done any good? My thought is it can’t have done any harm and I am training the muscles in my throat?

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.

Hi everyone. I count that we've done 43 stroke prevention tips, pretty much every order day. We're going to pause the tips temporarily for a few weeks until the new year. Partly to free up time for Christmas and partly because I'm struggling to come up with more ideas! However, I will use that time to write some more stuff in the classroom section. We'll also still have our prevention catch up (next one on Sunday) and I hope we'll keep up our chats in the group too.

Morning all I’m really struggling at the moment controlling my Hbac1. I’ve always found it a challenge but I’ve managed to keep it pretty low. Now it’s consistently high. Especially after lunch. Any tips?

I hope none of us smoke, but if you do this one's is for you. If there’s one lifestyle change that delivers immediate and lifelong protection against stroke, it’s stopping smoking. Smoking is one of the top 10 modifiable factors that explain over 90% of all strokes worldwide. Nicotine and tobacco smoke damage blood vessels, accelerate plaque build-up, thicken your blood, and increase your risk of clots — the perfect storm for a stroke. The Good News? The benefits start within minutes. 20 minutes: Blood pressure and heart rate begin to normalise 2–12 weeks: Circulation and lung function improve 1 year: Stroke risk drops by around 50% 5 years: Stroke risk approaches that of a lifelong non-smoker Why this matters for you Every cigarette increases stroke risk, but stopping shifts the trajectory rapidly. No other intervention reduces risk quite as quickly or as powerfully across the brain, heart, and vascular system. If you're trying to quit You don’t have to do it alone. Nicotine replacement, prescription supports, and structured coaching all significantly increase success rates — and the payoff is enormous. You can get this for free anywhere in the UK. Just Google stop smoking and your nearest town or city. Your brain deserves better. Your future self will be grateful you made this choice today.