Waking Up at Night to Drink Water, a 59-Year-Old Man Di.ed Five Days Later: Doctors Warn of 4 “Har.mless” Habits That Can Be Dea.dly

The case of a 59-year-old man in China serves as a sobering reminder that some seemingly harmless daily habits can carry deadly risks.

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A “Healthy” Habit That Turned into a Health Trap

Many people believe that drinking water frequently is always good for the body. However, the timing, temperature, and manner of drinking can greatly affect the heart and brain. The story of Mr. Li below shows how drinking water the wrong way can have serious — even fatal — consequences.

According to Sohu, Mr. Li (59, China) woke up in the middle of the night feeling thirsty. He casually drank a few sips of cold water and went back to bed. The next morning, he experienced headaches and nausea, which he assumed were just signs of a mild cold. Shockingly, only five days later, he died suddenly in the hospital from acute cerebral hemorrhage, leaving his family devastated.

“He was always healthy, with no major medical conditions — how could this happen so suddenly?” his relatives said in disbelief.

Doctors explained:

“Small habits, when repeated every day, can quietly become life-threatening.”

Drinking cold water at night can cause sudden constriction of blood vessels, leading to sharp blood pressure fluctuations — especially dangerous for people with hypertension or atherosclerosis.

A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that late-night to early-morning hours are when the risk of brain hemorrhage is highest. This is due to a combination of factors — waking up suddenly, drinking water, going to the bathroom, and then returning to sleep — creating a “rollercoaster effect” on blood vessels in the brain.

Moreover, drinking water too quickly on an empty stomach, particularly cold water, can stimulate the vagus nerve, potentially causing irregular heartbeat or even fainting.

Experts emphasize that waking up to drink water isn’t inherently wrong — the problem lies in how it’s done. Mr. Li’s tragic death wasn’t a random accident but a warning about “healthy” habits that can quietly endanger life when done improperly.

Cerebral hemorrhage is a preventable condition. Doctors urge everyone to adjust their daily routines — even the smallest habits — to protect their vascular health and overall safety.

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4 “Silent Killer” Habits Many People Still Have

Doctors warn that the following four common behaviors, if repeated daily, can damage blood vessels and significantly increase the risk of stroke in a short time:

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1. Drinking Too Much Water at Night

When the body is at rest, drinking excessive amounts of water can suddenly dilute the blood, causing blood pressure fluctuations, dizziness, or heart palpitations. Harvard Medical School has cautioned that this disrupts the brain’s natural pressure regulation mechanisms.

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2. Drinking Tea or Coffee Before Bed

Caffeine acts as a diuretic and nervous system stimulant, disrupting sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation can increase morning blood pressure by up to 32%, raising the risk of cardiovascular incidents.

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3. Late-Night Snacking

Eating oily or sugary foods late at night raises blood fat and blood sugar levels, key factors that trigger cerebrovascular events — particularly in middle-aged and older adults.

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4. Getting Out of Bed Too Quickly in the Morning

Morning is when blood pressure naturally rises. Standing up suddenly can cause a rapid constriction of brain blood vessels, leading to “morning hypertension” — a critical period when strokes are most likely to occur.