Tell your family: 5 things you should NEVER do right after waking up in cold weather — they can be fatal

A man in his 40s di.ed of a stroke after doing just one thing to “warm up” immediately after waking.

The man, surnamed Deng, from Hunan Province, China, died at the age of 49 from a cerebral infarction (ischemic stroke). According to his wife, he exercised regularly even in cold weather and rarely got sick. However, he had long-standing habits of smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating greasy foods. About five years earlier, doctors had warned him that he had high blood pressure, but he did not take it seriously.

On the day of the incident, the weather was extremely cold. Deng woke up early feeling slightly unwell and restless and wanted to go outside to exercise. His family objected, so he stayed indoors and smoked to “warm himself up.” Not long afterward, he developed a severe headache, began vomiting, and was unable to walk due to weakness on the right side of his body.

He was rushed to the Emergency Department of Zhuzhou Central Hospital (Hunan, China). His condition rapidly progressed from partial paralysis to complete loss of consciousness. Despite intensive efforts by doctors, he could not be saved. The cause of death was confirmed as cerebral infarction. Doctors said the tragedy was not only the result of years of unhealthy habits and poorly controlled blood pressure, but also of dangerous actions taken immediately after waking up, such as getting up too quickly, smoking, and sudden intense physical activity.

Five things you should never do right after waking up

Deng’s doctors warned that early morning—especially during cold weather—is a high-risk period for strokes and cardiovascular events. Low temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict to conserve heat, raising blood pressure and making the blood thicker. At the same time, the body is still weak, low on energy, and not fully adjusted after sleep.

To protect yourself, especially in cold weather, avoid these five actions immediately after waking:

1. Getting out of bed too quickly

In cold conditions, the body needs more time to warm up and stabilize blood pressure after a long night. Jumping out of bed suddenly prevents the body from adapting to posture and temperature changes, increasing the risk of dizziness or even rupture of cerebral blood vessels.

Doctors recommend staying under the covers for 3–5 minutes, gently moving your arms and legs to warm up before slowly sitting up.

2. Smoking

Many people smoke right after waking or believe it helps warm the body. In reality, nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict even more in cold weather, placing extra strain on the circulatory system. This increases the risk of blood clots and sudden blockage of cerebral arteries.

Smoking is harmful at any time, but smoking on an empty stomach immediately after waking allows toxins to enter the body faster and act more aggressively.

3. Intense physical activity, especially outdoors

Some people exercise vigorously as soon as they wake up to “fight off the cold.” However, intense activity before the circulatory system has stabilized can overload the heart. Going outdoors too early exposes the body to cold air that sharply constricts blood vessels, causing blood pressure to spike and potentially triggering an immediate stroke.

It’s safer to exercise after the temperature rises or sunlight appears. If exercising indoors, warm up thoroughly, dress warmly, and avoid drafts.

4. Drinking alcohol

Drinking alcohol right after waking—especially on an empty stomach—is extremely dangerous, even if done to feel warm.

Alcohol causes peripheral blood vessels to dilate, creating a temporary sensation of warmth while actually accelerating heat loss. In cold weather, drinking alcohol after waking impairs the body’s ability to regulate temperature, damages blood vessel elasticity, and increases the risk of cerebral infarction.

5. Getting angry or emotionally agitated

Cold, gloomy weather can negatively affect mood, but emotional agitation early in the morning causes the heart to beat faster and blood vessels to constrict more forcefully. When blood is already thicker due to overnight dehydration, this stress can easily lead to insufficient blood flow to the brain.

Doctors advise staying calm after waking and drinking a glass of warm water to thin the blood and help stabilize both circulation and mood.