A 56-Year-Old Man Suffers a Stroke in the Middle of the Night: Could These 4 Drinks Increase Stroke Risk?

A stroke can happen suddenly, sometimes when a person is asleep or wakes up feeling completely different from normal. Because of how dramatic these events can be, stories about a person suffering a nighttime stroke often lead to questions about what might have contributed to it—including what they regularly drink.

The image above suggests that four types of drinks may increase stroke risk. That claim needs some context.

No single beverage can reliably be identified as the cause of a particular person's stroke without knowing their medical history, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, diabetes status, medications, smoking history, alcohol consumption, diet, and many other factors.

However, some beverages can contribute to high blood pressure, excess calorie intake, diabetes, obesity, or other cardiovascular risk factors, which can influence a person's long-term stroke risk.

Here are four categories of drinks worth thinking about.

1. Sugar-Sweetened Soft Drinks

Regular soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages can contain substantial amounts of added sugar.

Drinking them occasionally is different from consuming large quantities every day.

Frequent consumption can make it easier to consume excess calories, potentially contributing to weight gain and metabolic problems. Over time, excess body weight, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes can increase cardiovascular risk.

High intake of sugary beverages has also been associated in observational research with poorer cardiometabolic health.

The important point is that the concern is primarily about long-term dietary patterns, rather than drinking one soda suddenly causing a stroke.

If you regularly drink several cans or bottles of sugary beverages every day, gradually replacing some of them with water or unsweetened drinks can be a practical way to reduce added sugar intake.

2. Energy Drinks

Energy drinks deserve particular attention because they may contain substantial amounts of caffeine and other stimulants.

Caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure, and large amounts may cause palpitations, anxiety, tremor, or sleep disruption in some people.

Some energy drinks also contain significant amounts of sugar.

For healthy adults, moderate caffeine consumption is generally considered compatible with a healthy diet. But people who have certain cardiovascular conditions, uncontrolled hypertension, sensitivity to caffeine, or who consume very large quantities may need to be more cautious.

Combining energy drinks with intense exercise or other stimulants can also increase physiological stress.