I'm interested to share today's Stroke-Proof tip because it's an area I hadn't really thought as a risk factor before, but I know realise that it very much is! When people think about preventing stroke they think about: 🏃 Exercise 🥗 Diet 🚭 Smoking 🩸 Blood pressure 💊 Cholesterol Very few people think about their gums. Periodontal (gum) disease is a chronic inflammatory condition caused by bacteria around the teeth. Those bacteria don't always stay in your mouth. They can enter the bloodstream, increase systemic inflammation, damage blood vessels and may contribute to atherosclerosis and blood clot formation. Several large studies have found that people with periodontitis have a significantly higher risk of stroke. The latest systematic review analysed 36 studies involving more than 7.6 million people and found that periodontal disease was associated with around a 72% higher odds of stroke, with an even stronger association for ischaemic stroke. (PubMed) Fortunately... A recent systematic review found that treating periodontal disease—particularly regular professional dental scaling—was associated with a lower risk of future ischaemic stroke. (PubMed) Now, this doesn't prove that brushing your teeth prevents stroke. People with good oral hygiene often have other healthy habits too, and most of the evidence is observational. But we already know that good oral health has many benefits, and there's increasing evidence that it forms part of overall cardiovascular health. So if you're trying to become Stroke-Proof, don't stop at the gym or the kitchen. ✅ Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste ✅ Clean between your teeth every day (floss or interdental brushes) ✅ See your dentist regularly ✅ Don't ignore bleeding gums—they're common, but they're not normal. However.... Be cautiuous with broad-spectrum antiseptic mouthwashes (particularly chlorhexidine, unless specifically prescribed by your dentist).

Hello everyone, Nik and I, together with the Stroke Prevention Team in our local stroke service have been developing a three-session Secondary Stroke Prevention Programme for stroke survivors and their families. Before we launch the pilot, we'd like to make sure we're focusing on what matters most to stroke survivors and their families. Please have a look at the programme outline. We'd love to hear any suggestions or advice that could help make the programme as useful and practical as possible for stroke survivors and their families. Secondary Stroke Prevention Programme (Pilot) Aim: To improve stroke survivors' knowledge, confidence and self-management skills to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke through education, behaviour change and ongoing peer support. Target audience - stroke survivors - Family members encouraged to attend - Format - Three weekly group sessions - 90 minutes each - Interactive, discussion-based sessions combining education with practical self-management strategies Session 1 Understanding My Stroke Objectives Participants will: - Understand what happened during their stroke - Understand why their stroke occurred - Recognise their own stroke risk factors - Begin reflecting on their personal recovery journey Topics · Welcome and programme overview · Brief introduction to what is stroke, types, How stroke affects the brain and causes symptoms, Recovery after stroke, Why another stroke can happen · Understanding personal risk factors- introduction to stroke risk factors · Personal stroke story and group discussion Session 2 Protecting My Brain Objectives Participants will: - Understand the main medical treatments that prevent another stroke - Gain confidence in monitoring important risk factors - Feel confident taking prescribed medications Topics - Antiplatelets and anticoagulants - Medication adherence, managing side effects and knowing when to seek advice - Blood pressure: understanding targets and home monitoring - Cholesterol and statin therapy - Atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention

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

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

Has anyone tried a Med Diet? And if so would they recommend if?