Stroke survivors warn young Australians to learn life-saving signs

A stroke can strike without warning at any age, and experts are warning the condition is becoming increasingly common among young Australians.

Every year, 45,000 Australians suffer a stroke, or one every 11 minutes. Alarmingly, one in four occur in young people, and almost 8000 people die annually.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Stroke warning signs that could save your life

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Mother of three and gym owner Brooke, 41, is alive today thanks to the quick thinking of fellow trainer Ryan Webber. Earlier this year, she was having a stroke and didn’t even know it.

“I felt like I had pins and needles or my leg was dead and I felt like maybe in time it would come to and it never regained any feeling,” she said.

Webber recognised the signs and told her to go to hospital. He too had suffered a stroke years ago.

“A lot of people wouldn’t be able to pick up those signs or would think that they’re OK,” he said.

The most common risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure, and 50 per cent of all Australians who have high blood pressure are not even aware of it.

“A few of my friends have had strokes and I’m like ‘oh my goodness what is this? I’m just too young. I thought I was too healthy’,” Brooke said.

Health experts urge people to remember the word FAST: F for face drooping, A for arm weakness, S for slurred speech and T for time. If you notice any of those signs, call triple zero immediately.

“A million brain cells die every minute that the blood is not getting to the part of the brain where the stroke is,” one expert said.

Like Brooke and Ryan, many young Australians experience different symptoms. Their message: it can happen at any age and take your stress levels seriously.

It could save your life.