"I could feel something tearing in my head." Alison Reidy, 38, described the moment her stroke symptoms escalated days before the event.
A working mother in the Northern Territory, Alison Reidy experienced sporadic symptoms for months—vertigo, fatigue, and headaches—and consulted a GP multiple times, but no cause was found. She was later diagnosed with ear crystals.
Days before the stroke, symptoms escalated dramatically. She woke with a severe headache and a tearing sensation. At the GP office, she suffered dry retching, vision loss, and severe vertigo.
At the hospital, a CT scan confirmed the stroke. Reidy had memory issues and could not recall her birthday. She was hospitalized for 10 days.
The effects included slowed speech, cognition, and balance. The cause of her stroke was not determined.
Stroke Statistics and Risk Factors
According to Stroke Foundation CEO Lisa Murphy, the NT has the lowest stroke awareness in Australia.
A study at Alice Springs Hospital found that stroke is three times more likely in Indigenous Australians than non-Indigenous, occurring at younger ages and more severely.
- About 80% of strokes are preventable.
- Risk factors include high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Symptoms and Response
Common stroke symptoms include:
- Facial drooping
- Inability to lift arms
- Slurred speech
However, strokes can manifest subtly, such as confusion or transient slurred speech.
The FAST acronym is recommended:
- Face drooping
- Arm weakness
- Speech difficulty
- Time to call emergency
Recovery and Activities
Reidy regained mobility from wheelchair to cane to independent movement.
She volunteered with ParkRun and later joined athletics, becoming part of the NT's Para Futures Program for athletes with disabilities.
She advises others to seek immediate medical attention for stroke symptoms.