A stroke can strike without warning at any age, and experts are warning the condition is becoming increasingly common among young Australians.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Stroke warning signs that could save your life<\/p>\n
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019t even know it.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Webber recognised the signs and told her to go to hospital. He too had suffered a stroke years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people wouldn\u2019t be able to pick up those signs or would think that they\u2019re OK,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cA few of my friends have had strokes and I\u2019m like \u2018oh my goodness what is this? I\u2019m just too young. I thought I was too healthy\u2019,\u201d Brooke said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cA million brain cells die every minute that the blood is not getting to the part of the brain where the stroke is,\u201d one expert said.<\/p>\n Like Brooke and Ryan, many young Australians experience different symptoms. Their message: it can happen at any age and take your stress levels seriously.<\/p>\n It could save your life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suspended learner charged after wild police chase onto train tracks<\/p>\n 1 min read<\/p>\n