HEADACHES, STROKES: SELF-HELP

The key to self-help is avoidance. Make sure that you have your blood pressure measured from time to time. This is especially important if you have a family history of high blood pressure, or if your own blood pressure is known to be a little higher than normal. (In this case, more regular checks are likely to be needed.)

If your doctor is giving you tablets for blood pressure make sure you take them regularly, even if you get some side-effects. Do, by the way, tell your doctor about any side-effects. There are many different ways of treating high blood pressure and it may be that the drug you’re using at the moment doesn’t suit you as well as some of the others might.

If you’ve already had a stroke, then do attend to what your doctor and physiotherapist are telling you. In particular, if your physiotherapist is suggesting some exercises, take time to do them. It will help considerably to keep your remaining muscles trim and get the very best out of muscles that have been partially paralysed. By exercising properly you will be minimising the after-effects of your stroke to a degree you might not think possible at the moment.

Finally, if you are getting pains in your head, neck, or back following a stroke, don’t suffer in silence – tell your doctor.