A report recently released by The Stroke Foundation shows Paterson is currently ranked in the top five hot spots in Australia for stroke survival, and is in the top eight for stroke incidence.

But by 2050, the incidence of stroke is expected to be higher in Paterson than any other electorate in Australia.

The Shortland electorate is also in the top 20 for stroke survival, both in 2017 and 2050.

The No Postcode Untouched: Stroke in Australia 2017 report says a stroke occurs every nine minutes in Australia, but that would likely increase to one every four minutes by 2050.

Regional Australians are 19 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke than those living in metropolitan areas, it says.

Both Paterson and Shortland were also in the top 15 electorates for high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for stroke.

But stroke can happen to anyone, at any time, and at any age, Newcastle’s Meredith Burke has told Fairfax Media.

She was 39 when she had a stroke. She was fit. She was healthy. A picture of health.

“I got a massive headache while I was at the gym. It didn’t go away, so I got my husband to drive me to the hospital,” she said.

Six hours later, she could not walk. She could not talk. She could not read the clock on the opposite wall.

It was terrifying, she said.

“They say that for every 12 minutes after you have had a stroke, a pea-sized piece of your brain dies,” Ms Burke, now 44, said.

“I worked out that I’ve probably lost about 30 peas-worth of my brain.”

Ms Burke had to learn how to speak again, an “immensely frustrating" exercise given she still had her full vocabulary in her mind, but could not say the words.

She lost sensation on the right side of her body. She suffers debilitating post-stroke fatigue, and can no longer work.

“Stroke has affected every part of my life,” she said.

“You have to completely rebuild your life. People are so busy in their lives, they forget that without your health, the rest of your life doesn’t happen.

“It is so important to get your blood pressure checked and know your numbers. Give up smoking. Eat more fruit and vegetables. Look after your health.

“It’s not until it’s too late that you really understand what you had.”

The report says other modifiable risk factors for stroke include high cholesterol and physical activity, as well as “atrial fibrillation”, or an irregular heart beat.

Non-modifiable risk factors include age, gender and family history of stroke.