A 48-Year-Old Man Suddenly Di.ed of a Stroke During the Night: 5 Things You Should Never Do in the Evening

Nighttime is when the body enters its recovery and energy restoration phase. However, if you do the wrong things, this period can turn into a heavy burden on your heart and brain.

It may sound distant, but tragedies like Mr. Tran’s (48, China) are not rare. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in every 6 people will suffer a stroke, and every 6 seconds, someone dies from it.

Even more alarming, 90% of stroke cases are directly linked to lifestyle habits — especially five common evening activities. These seemingly harmless routines can quietly trigger sudden blockages in brain blood vessels.

Why Is Nighttime the “Peak Hour” for Strokes?

Evenings are meant for healing and recovery, yet certain habits can overburden your cardiovascular and nervous systems. Medical studies identify the following five behaviors as major contributors to stroke risk:

• Staying up late or overworking:
  “One sleepless night won’t hurt,” many middle-aged adults say. But sleep deprivation increases nervous tension, disrupts hormones, and forces blood vessels to work nonstop. Research from Henan Provincial People’s Hospital (China) found that people who regularly stay up late have a 2.5 times higher risk of stroke than those who sleep on time.

• Smoking:
  One cigarette may feel relaxing, but its effects are long-lasting. Nicotine and tar damage blood vessel linings, making the blood thicker and more prone to clotting. A study from Zhengzhou University Central Hospital revealed that smokers have a 90% higher risk of dying from stroke compared to non-smokers.

• Anger and emotional stress:
  A burst of anger can literally be deadly. When you’re enraged, blood pressure spikes, the heart races, and blood vessels constrict suddenly — perfect conditions for a stroke. Doctors at Wuhan University People’s Hospital warn that even a few minutes of rage can drastically increase the risk of a brain hemorrhage.

• Drinking alcohol before bed:
  “A drink helps me sleep” — a deadly misconception. Alcohol causes blood pressure fluctuations, overworks the liver, and disrupts heart rhythm. According to Beijing Xuanwu Hospital (Capital Medical University), regular drinkers face a 22% higher risk of nighttime strokes, particularly between midnight and dawn.

• Late-night eating:
  A bowl of instant noodles or grilled meat before bed might seem harmless but can be dangerous. A Turkish study found that eating within two hours before sleep triples nighttime blood pressure spikes, triggering strokes in at-risk individuals. Late meals also thicken the blood and overwork the liver and pancreas, preventing proper rest.

Don’t Ignore the Brain’s Warning Signs

Before a stroke strikes, the body always sends warning signals — but most people overlook them. Doctors identify four key early symptoms:

• Persistent headache or dizziness, especially in the evening

• Numbness or weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech

• Drooping mouth or drooling on one side

• Excessive sleepiness or yawning despite not being tired

If you experience these, go to the hospital immediately — don’t “sleep it off.” Many lives have been lost because people thought they were “just tired.”

5 Habits to Keep Your Brain Healthy and Prevent Stroke

• Go to bed before 11 PM and get 7–8 hours of sleep.

• Quit smoking, limit alcohol, and don’t “drink to relax.”

• Maintain emotional stability — practice deep breathing, walking, or calming music.

• Eat dinner early, at least two hours before bed, with light, low-fat meals.

• Get regular checkups, especially if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or a family history of stroke.

A stroke can strike anyone — even the young and seemingly healthy — because of a few small habits. Starting today, make small changes: go to bed a bit earlier, smoke one less cigarette, skip that late-night beer or snack. It could save your life.