F — Face

Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A — Arms

Ask them to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward or feel suddenly weak?

S — Speech

Is their speech slurred, confused, or difficult to understand?

T — Time

If these symptoms appear suddenly, call emergency medical services immediately.

Other possible symptoms include sudden vision problems, severe dizziness, difficulty walking, loss of balance, numbness, or a sudden severe headache.

Do not wait to see whether the symptoms disappear.

The Bottom Line

The claim that four specific drinks directly cause nighttime strokes is far too simplistic.

However, certain drinking habits can contribute to stroke risk indirectly by affecting blood pressure, body weight, blood sugar, heart rhythm, or overall cardiovascular health.

The beverages most worth limiting include sugar-sweetened drinks, excessive energy drinks, heavy alcohol consumption, and highly sweetened high-calorie beverages.

At the same time, don't turn this into fear of every cup of coffee or every occasional soft drink.

Your overall lifestyle matters far more than one drink.

Maintaining healthy blood pressure, avoiding tobacco, managing cholesterol and blood sugar, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and moderating alcohol can all play an important role in reducing cardiovascular risk.

And if someone suddenly develops facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, severe dizziness, or another sudden neurological change, don't waste time trying to determine what they ate or drank.

Treat it as a medical emergency. Every minute can matter.