One in five people will have a stroke at some time in their life, most are over 65, but they can occur at any age.
Until recently, many people, including doctors, believed little or nothing could be done following a stroke.
However, strokes are now very treatable and, if the right actions are taken quickly, the patient may not have any long term effects.
This means recognising the symptoms and accessing treatment immediately can be crucial after a stroke.
Here is everything you need to know:
Stroke symptoms include:
- Numbness, weakness, or paralysis on one side of the body
- Slurred speech, difficulty thinking of words or understanding other people
- Confusion
- Sudden blurred vision or sight loss
- Being unsteady on your feet
- Severe headache
Thankfully there are also ways to reduce your risk of having a stroke.
A 2012 study, published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, found that a diet high in tomatoes could significantly lower the risk of having a stroke as they contain high concentrations of lycopene.
The study author Jouni Karppi of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio said: "This study adds to the evidence that a diet high in fruits is associated with a low risk of stroke.
"The results support the recommendation that people get more than five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, which would likely lead to a major reduction in the number of strokes worldwide, according to previous research."
The study assessed a group of 1,031 men from Finland aged between 46 and 65.
All participants had their levels of lycopene tested at the beginning of the study and were then followed for an average of 12 years.
During the 12 years, 67 participants suffered a stroke.
Upon assessing their levels of lycopene, researchers noted that among the 258 men with the lowest levels, 25 suffered a stroke.
Among the 259 men with the highest levels of lycopene, 11 had a stroke.
The study concluded that participants with the highest levels of lycopene were 59 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke compared to those with the lowest levels.
Researchers said: "This prospective study shows that high serum concentrations of lycopene, as a marker of intake of tomatoes and tomato-based products, decrease the risk of any stroke and ischemic stroke in men."
