Skip to main content

Living with a stroke condition

Life following a stroke can feel incredibly overwhelming – life as you know it has changed overnight. However, there is a wealth of support, advice and community available to ensure that you’re living a full, enjoyable life while managing your stroke condition.

We’re here to support you every step of the way on your recovery journey. With the right support, you can do more than just survive – you can really live.

Managing stroke condition symptoms

When you were discharged from hospital, you should have been provided with a recovery plan by your doctor or healthcare team. This may include medication, lifestyle changes or therapy such as physiotherapy or speech therapy. Make sure you understand and follow this plan to help aid your recovery as much as possible.

Monitoring your condition by keeping notes or a diary can be a useful tool for some people. Whenever you experience new or exacerbated symptoms, or are having a particularly good or bad day, note them down. You can then report back to your health team for further help and advice.

Strokes and TIAs

Live a healthier life

Strokes affect different people in different ways. You may not be able to do some of the things you used to do in everyday life, or you may have to adapt the way you do things.

When you feel able to, it’s a great idea to make some small, gradual changes to you lifestyle to help look after your health. Small steps can lead to big changes, so try to take things at your own pace and don’t push yourself too hard too soon.

To find more tips and information, visit our Living Well section.

Living Well

Some small changes that you can start today:

  • If you are a smoker, consider cutting down smoking with an eventual goal of giving up entirely.
  • Make sure that, if possible, you walk or do a small amount of exercise every day. Ideally for at least 30 minutes but if you don’t feel up to that, gentle stretches are a great way to keep you moving.
  • Start keeping lists to help train your memory and keep you on top of things.
  • Set timers for daily tasks like or washing your face to help you get back into a routine.
  • Eat a more balanced diet and try to integrate greens wherever possible. Whether this means having spinach with your eggs at breakfast or broccoli with your evening meal, greens have great health benefits.
  • Limit your alcohol consumption to the recommended amount of 14 units per week, or less if you can.

Once you are comfortable with these initial steps and you are forming great habits, slowly challenge yourself a little more where possible with the support of your loved ones.

How can Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland help you?

At Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, we’re committed to supporting people as they recover after a stroke. We know that the road to recovery can be long, difficult and lonely, but we’re here for you. Whether it’s practical support to help you adapt to day-to-day life or emotional support to help you look after your mental wellbeing, there are lots of ways we can assist.

To find out more about the services we offer, access support and learn more about how to manage your condition, get in touch with our Advice Line nurses for free, confidential support. You can also download Your Stroke Toolkit, a range of resources and information to help you live well at home.

“The support group has become a lifeline.”

Just ask Barry

When Barry, 73, experienced a TIA (also known as a mini stroke) at the beginning of lockdown, he was feeling isolated.

Then he joined our online stroke support group and soon became firm friends with other stroke survivors in his local area.

“It’s good to talk to someone who is having the same problems and the same issues. We don’t just talk about having had a stroke. We’re chatting about everything and anything,” explains Barry.

“It’s been a real boost for me because none of us can get out or do the things we normally would because of Covid-19.

“The support group has become a lifeline, something I look forward to. Online support is essential.”

Read Barry’s story

Stroke support groups

Join one of our 140+ affiliated Peer Support Groups across Scotland to get support, socialise and meet people who understand what you’re going through.

Whether you’re looking for weekly or monthly support, big groups or small, our groups can pair you with people who are experiencing your condition. You’ll also be able to find out more about your condition, get tips for managing your symptoms and enjoy activities that work for you.

Find your local group

Share this page
  • Was this helpful ?
  • YesNo