At just 40 years old, Claire Arnopp never imagined she would have a stroke. A mum of three children aged three, 10 and 17, living in Welwyn Garden City with her partner Will, Claire was busy, sociable and devoted to her family. But one silent, unmonitored risk factor was quietly building in the background: high blood pressure.
I had no idea how dangerous my blood pressure really was. I was walking around in blissful denial, not understanding that by not monitoring or managing it properly, I was putting my life at risk.
During her pregnancy with her youngest child, Oscar, Claire was diagnosed with gestational hypertension. She hadn't experienced this with her previous pregnancies and was prescribed medication to control it.
Claire said: 'I was given medication to take, but I wasn’t fully educated about how important it was to keep taking it or to have regular blood pressure checks after the birth. Once Oscar arrived, I just stopped taking the medication. I didn't think it mattered anymore.'
Claire now knows that gestational hypertension alone increases future stroke risk – something she was never told at the time.
Claire said: 'I didn’t know until recently that having gestational hypertension in itself raises your stroke risk.
I didn't know that not taking my medication or being regularly monitored could be the difference between life and death. It terrifies me how many other women might be walking around not knowing they’re at risk too.
Claire, stroke survivor
In the months leading up to her stroke, life became overwhelming. Claire's parents were unwell, her partner lost work for a period, a close friend died, and stress became constant. Her health began to slide.
Claire said: 'I wasn’t looking after myself at all. I was drinking too much, not eating properly, not sleeping. I knew I was on a slippery slope – but I never thought something like a stroke could happen to me.'
Claire had also lived with migraines for years and, in the days before her stroke, experienced the longest and most painful migraine she'd ever had.
Looking back, Claire now understands how multiple risk factors were colliding.
Claire said: 'So high blood pressure, high alcohol consumption, being overweight, chronic stress and migraines – I was a perfect storm. I was also taking the contraceptive pill, which I now know can increase stroke risk. I stopped taking it after my stroke and switched to a copper coil, which is non-hormonal.'
On 11 December 2024, everything changed. That morning, Claire was sitting on the toilet when she felt something terrifying.
Claire said: 'It felt like a ripple through my body – like a shudder. Then everything went black. When I came round, my phone was on the floor and my left arm was completely limp. I couldn’t move it at all. I remember thinking, 'This is ridiculous. I’m too young to be having a stroke'.'
Then her face started to drop. Her speech slurred. She struggled to breathe and swallow.
Claire said: 'I was making this horrible snarl sound. I managed to get to Will and just said, 'Hospital'.'
Still in her pyjamas and dressing gown, Claire was rushed to A&E. Her teenage daughter walked her into hospital while Will took the younger children to school. She said: 'I was terrified. I was completely alone in a hospital room, thinking of all those medical dramas you see on TV and honestly fearing the worst.'
Initially, doctors believed Claire was having a panic attack. A CT scan showed no clot, so she didn’t receive clot-busting treatment. It was only the following day, after an MRI scan, that her stroke was confirmed.
'I remember listening to Christmas music in the scanner. It sounds silly, but it made me smile. Inside, I was traumatised. I was scared of everything.'
Claire spent seven nights in hospital. Further tests revealed she has a PFO (a hole in the heart) and she is now preparing for possible surgery.
Although she wasn’t left with visible physical disabilities, the impact has been life-changing.
Claire said: 'I have two right-sided infarcts. My mood changed. My memory changed. My whole life shifted. I feel reborn. I’m a completely different person. I’m actually grateful I had the stroke. It saved my life. It was my warning sign - my wake-up call. I feel lucky to have been given a second chance.'
The hardest part for her is knowing her children witnessed it. She said: 'That’s what breaks me. I hate that they had to see me like that.'
Since her stroke, Claire has transformed her life. She is nearly a year into recovery from an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, is actively managing her blood pressure, improving her diet, reducing stress and making her health a priority.
Claire said: 'Last Christmas was filled with fear. I was scared of everything. This Christmas feels completely different. I’m reclaiming the moment. I’m cooking, making memories and living differently.
My message is simple but urgent: don’t ignore your blood pressure. Especially if you’ve had gestational hypertension – even years ago. Ask questions. Get checked. Take the medication if you’re prescribed it.
Claire, stroke survivor
'Strokes don't just happen to 'other people' or older people. If something feels wrong, trust yourself. If you're overwhelmed, stressed, drinking too much or neglecting your health – please hear this as kindness, not judgement. Small changes really do matter.
'And if sharing my story helps even one person realise they're at risk and take action sooner, then it's worth it.'
Claire's story shows why it's important to keep an eye on your blood pressure. And that's what we're encouraging everyone to do this Stroke Prevention Day (29 January 2026). We also share some simple steps you can follow to help lower blood pressure.
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