Take steps to reduce your risk this National Stroke Week

National Stroke Week highlights ways to reduce your risk.

ACT FAST: How to recognise a stroke. Picture: Contributed

AS NATIONAL Stroke Week begins the Stroke Foundation is urging Queenslanders to take control of their health and take steps to reduce their stroke risk.

Stroke attacks the brain - it can strike in an instant and change lives forever.

Stroke Foundation Queensland state manager Andrea Sanders said the burden of stroke has grown quickly over the last two decades and young people are increasingly affected.

"Twenty strokes each day are happening to people of working age but it does not have to be this way,” Ms Sanders said.

"Stroke can impact anyone of any age but the good news is more than 80 per cent of strokes may be prevented.”

In Australia, there will be 56,000 strokes this year alone. More than 10,000 of those strokes will be experienced by residents in Queensland.

Top tips for National Stroke Week:

- Stay active

- Eat well.

- Drink alcohol in moderation

- Quit smoking

- See yourdoctor for a health check.