42-year-old man suffers sudden stro.ke despite not smo.king or drin.king: Doctor says it was caused by “three habits”

A 42-year-old man in China was rushed to the hospital at night after suffering a stroke. According to doctors, the cause stemmed from three of the patient’s daily habits.

According to Sohu, the man, named Wang Yuan, 42, living in Shanghai (China), was taken to the hospital by his family during the night after suddenly experiencing paralysis on the left side of his body. At the hospital, doctors found his blood pressure had surged to 180/110 mmHg.

Test results confirmed that Mr. Wang had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. Fortunately, thanks to timely emergency treatment, he was stabilized, and his condition is gradually improving.

What shocked the family was that Mr. Wang did not smoke or drink alcohol, yet he was diagnosed with a stroke. Mr. Wang himself believed that only people who abuse alcohol and frequently smoke are vulnerable to stroke.

The treating doctor explained that aside from tobacco and alcohol, many factors can increase the risk of stroke. After further investigating the patient’s lifestyle, the doctor discovered three unhealthy habits: a high-salt diet, staying up late, and lack of exercise. According to the doctor, these three habits caused high blood pressure, damaged blood vessels, and significantly increased his risk of a hemorrhagic stroke.

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Three habits that increase the risk of stroke

1. Eating salty foods and consuming many processed products

According to the doctor, Mr. Wang preferred strongly seasoned foods and often asked his wife to add extra salt when cooking. He also frequently consumed smoked meats and packaged foods high in sodium.

Mr. Wang admitted that he had been diagnosed with hypertension five years earlier and had been advised to reduce salt intake and take his medication regularly. However, he ignored the doctor’s advice, believing he was still young and had no obvious symptoms.

This hospitalization revealed that uncontrolled high blood pressure was one of the major factors that led to his stroke.

Doctors warn that a high-salt diet is a leading cause of hypertension, which in turn raises the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

2. Staying up late continuously

Mr. Wang’s family shared that his work schedule was extremely busy, often forcing him to work until 2–3 a.m. According to the doctor, staying up late leads to chronic sleep deprivation, causing the sympathetic nervous system to remain in a constant state of overstimulation. This results in elevated blood pressure, abnormal lipid metabolism, and other health issues.

Global studies have also found that people who stay up late and sleep fewer than 6–7 hours per night are at higher risk of obesity, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.

3. Lack of physical activity

Because most of his time was devoted to work, Mr. Wang rarely exercised. Long hours of sitting, combined with poor eating habits, caused him to become overweight.

The doctor explained that inactivity leads to poor blood circulation and lipid metabolism disorders. By contrast, regular exercise helps control blood pressure and cholesterol, boosts metabolism, and effectively prevents stroke and cardiovascular disease.

The doctor also advised that after completing treatment and being discharged, Mr. Wang should increase light-to-moderate exercise to maintain his health.

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According to the doctor, even if a person does not smoke or drink alcohol, they can still develop a stroke or cardiovascular problems if they maintain an unhealthy diet, lack physical activity, or frequently stay up late. Experts encourage people to build healthy habits from a young age to reduce the risk of stroke early on.