We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — attributed to Aristotle. We've done so many stroke prevention posts that I've temporarily run out of things to say. So, I'm going to recycle an old post today. But I think it's a really important post on habit formation. There's no point in knowing how to be healthy if we don't act on it and that's where habits come in. Please share your thoughts on how you build healthy habits. *Habit formation Tip 1: Make it Obvious* We usually perform habits after being triggered by a cue. Find the best cues for the habits you want to do and amplify them. If it's eating fruit buy a huge striking fruit bowl and put it in a really obvious place. If it's going for a run first thing, leave your trainers right by the bed so you can't miss them in the morning, even better go to bed in your running clothes too. If it's flossing put a post-it note on your bathroom mirror. Whatever it takes, just make the habit inescapable. We've got billion dollar companies using the exact same tactics to flood us with cues to eat more junk and watch TV, so we need to fight back with our own tailored queues that actually serve our needs.

Good afternoon, everyone. I'm hoping some of you might be willing to help me with something that's very close to my heart. I'm looking for volunteers who would be happy to spend around 30 minutes chatting with me, either on Teams or over the phone, about your experiences following a stroke. *Why am I asking? Having worked in stroke medicine for many years, I know how much of a difference good care and support can make. But I also know that, despite the dedication of so many NHS staff, stroke services don't always provide everything that survivors and their families need. Sometimes that's because of limited resources. Sometimes it's because we, as healthcare professionals, haven't spent enough time really listening to people who've experienced a stroke and understanding what matters most to them. I want to help change that. But first, I need to listen. I've already had the chance to chat with one or two of you in detail and several fo you have replied to my prior post asking about what you needed after a stroke. This time I want to use the time for the conversation to go a little deeper. I'd love to understand more about your experiences, including: - How did you and your family feel in the days, weeks and months following your stroke? - What were your biggest worries, questions or frustrations? - What information or support did you need but struggle to find? - Where did you turn for answers? - Looking back, what could have made your journey a little easier? There's no right or wrong answer, and I'm not looking for anyone to share anything they feel uncomfortable discussing. Your experiences, whatever they may be, are what matter. *What am I hoping to achieve? My ambition is to make life after stroke a little less frightening, confusing and overwhelming. I want future stroke survivors and their families to be able to find clear, trustworthy information, practical advice and meaningful support without having to spend hours searching or feeling that they're facing everything alone.

Dear wonderful Stroke-Proof members, A key part of the Stroke-Proof community and the future book will be sharing stroke survivors stories. I hope these stories will provide hope to other stroke survivors. Especially those who have recently had a stroke and might be wondering what the future holds in store for them. I also hope it will be a useful opportunity for you to reflect on your journey. If you want to do so please use this thread to share your story, but remember there is no pressure to do so. If you could please also confirm whether you are happy for your story to be shared in the book and in other materials for Stroke survivors and if we do so whether you would prefer to remain anonymised. If you woud like to share your story in here but to remain anonymous you can do so by direct messaging me and I will then copy and paste what you send me into the chat. I would highly recommend writing whatever you want to say in a word document and then copy and pasteing it into here as I know some people have lost entries in here that didn't save properly. I hope you have a happy Friday!

After a stroke, you may suddenly find yourself taking several tablets every day. But often we aren't clear about what each tablet does and why. Many of the medicines prescribed after a stroke have one very important job — reducing your risk of another stroke. Here are some of the common ones: 🩸 CLOPIDOGREL / ASPIRIN — stopping platelets sticking together If you’ve had an ischaemic stroke — a stroke caused by a blood clot blocking an artery — you will often be prescribed an antiplatelet medicine. The most common long-term medication is clopidogrel. Aspirin is another antiplatelet and is commonly used immediately after an ischaemic stroke or TIA. Some people take aspirin instead of clopidogrel, and in certain situations aspirin and clopidogrel may be used together for a short period. These medicines make platelets less likely to stick together and form another clot. ❤️ APIXABAN, RIVAROXABAN, DABIGATRAN or EDOXABAN — preventing clots from the heart These belong to a group called DOACs — Direct Oral Anticoagulants. They are particularly important if your stroke was associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). AF causes the heart to beat irregularly. Blood can pool inside the heart, allowing a clot to form. That clot can then travel to the brain and cause a stroke. DOACs reduce the ability of the blood to form these dangerous clots. They include: • Apixaban • Rivaroxaban • Dabigatran • Edoxaban Some people need warfarin instead — for example, in certain types of heart-valve disease or with a mechanical heart valve. Importantly, anticoagulants and antiplatelets are not the same thing, and most people do not need both long-term unless there is another reason. 🫀 ATORVASTATIN and other statins — reducing cholesterol and stabilising arteries Statins are not simply “cholesterol tablets”. After an ischaemic stroke or TIA, a high-intensity statin such as atorvastatin is commonly prescribed to reduce the risk of another event. Lowering LDL cholesterol reduces the chance of cholesterol-rich plaques (artery deposits) growing or causing further problems in your arteries.

Does anyone else experience this? Since my strokes, I’ve struggled with pain, stiffness and tingling in my hands, fingers and toes. What’s strange is that it always seems to get worse around March and September, almost like clockwork. I’m wondering whether changes in the seasons or temperature might play a part. Does anyone else experience this, particularly at certain times of the year? I’d be really interested to hear your experiences.