Central and Peripheral Blood Pressure in Stroke

Participants will undertake an overnight fast prior to each assessment (only water is allowed to be consumed prior to the assessment). Participants will take their medication the morning of each assessment in accordance with the normal pharmacological management procedures which are used on the acute stroke ward at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Following this, participants will rest supine (on an electrically operated bed) for a minimum of 15 minutes. Oscillometric pressure waveforms (using the SphygmoCor XCEL), recorded on the left upper arm, will assess haemodynamic parameters including central and peripheral blood pressure, pulse pressure, and augmentation index (fasted, supine condition).