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PA Media
Jonathan Ashworth said he was now on the mend and urged people to get their blood pressure checked
Former Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth has revealed he suffered a stroke on New Year's Day and is now recovering.
Ashworth, who represented Leicester South between 2011 and 2024, thanked NHS staff who responded, cared for him and are helping with his rehabilitation.
Speaking to The Mirror, the 47-year-old said he suffered stiffness in his left arm and a loss of sight in his left eye.
"I had a blood clot that was restricting blood and oxygen getting to my brain," he told the newspaper. "What caused my stroke was really high blood pressure. I never knew I was living with such high blood pressure."
The former shadow secretary of state for health and social care said he had put off a routine health check from his GP.
"We need to really expand access to blood pressure support so that people can get their checks and that people can take their blood pressure seriously," he told The Mirror.
Posting on social media on Sunday, he said he was "on the mend" and had managed a "short run" as part of his recovery.
He also urged people to get their blood pressure checked.
According to the Stroke Association people should use the FAST method to identify the condition.
- Face weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
- Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms fully and keep them there?
- Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred?
- Time to call 999 if you see any one of these signs.
