A young woman named Alison Reidy had a stroke at age 38.

The topic is stroke.

Alison Reidy survived a stroke at a young age.

In short, stroke survivors want people to know the signs of stroke.

Stroke survivors and health professionals want people to be aware of stroke signs.

The Northern Territory has the worst rates of recognizing stroke symptoms.

Most strokes can be prevented, and there are ways to reduce the risks.

Alison Reidy thought her stroke symptoms were a bad migraine at first.

She said it came out of nowhere.

For months, she had symptoms like vertigo and headaches, but she thought it was just exhaustion.

She went to the doctor many times, but they didn't find anything.

At first, Alison thought her symptoms were a migraine.

But her symptoms got worse in the days before her stroke.

She woke up with a bad headache and other symptoms.

Alison became one of many people living with stroke effects in the NT.

Strokes happen when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or ruptures.

Strokes can cause many problems, including cognitive and mobility issues.

Alison wanted to regain her mobility during recovery.

She had bad symptoms in the doctor's waiting room and was rushed to the hospital.

She couldn't remember her birthday when she got to the hospital.

The nurse told her she had a stroke, and it was a shock.

Alison was worried about what would happen next.

She was in the hospital for 10 days.

Luckily, her stroke didn't affect her too much, just her speech and balance.

The doctors couldn't find the cause of her stroke.

Many strokes can be prevented.

The Stroke Foundation says the NT has low stroke awareness.

That's concerning, says the foundation's CEO.

Indigenous people are at higher risk of stroke.

A study found that Indigenous Australians are more likely to have strokes.

The NT has the worst stroke awareness in the country.

There are common symptoms of stroke, like facial drooping and slurred speech.

But sometimes, people don't recognize the symptoms as stroke-related.

Strokes can affect any part of the brain, so symptoms can vary.

People should learn the symptoms of stroke.

To check for stroke, think FAST: face, arms, speech, and time.

Know the FAST signs and seek help immediately.

Most strokes are preventable.

High blood pressure and cholesterol can increase stroke risk.

Alison Reidy worked to regain her mobility during recovery.

She started volunteering at a running group to find community.

She then started athletics and joined a program for athletes with disabilities.

Alison wants to help others by sharing her story.

Her message is to get checked if you have stroke symptoms.

Every stroke is different.

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