Doctor Advises Slow Morning Rise to Lower Stroke Risk
Doctor Jetsada Bunyongwirawong of Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital advises a slow morning routine to reduce stroke risk: pause before rising, drink water first, and check face, arm, and speech for early warning signs. He emphasizes that while these habits help, long‑term prevention depends on managing hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, medication adherence, smoking cessation, regular exercise, and proper sleep.
Doctor Jed outlines three morning habits to lower stroke risk. First, avoid jumping up right away; instead, lie still for a moment, then gently roll to sit with legs dangling over the edge of the bed for about half a minute to a minute, moving ankles and hands to let circulation catch up. Second, drink a glass of water before reaching for coffee, as overnight fasting often leaves the body mildly dehydrated, which can cause dizziness. Third, before picking up your phone, perform a quick self‑check of face, arm, and speech: smile to see if both sides of the mouth move equally, raise both arms to note any weakness or drift, and speak a simple sentence to ensure clarity; any abnormality such as numbness, slurred speech, or loss of balance warrants immediate emergency care (call 1669) and noting the time last known normal. He stresses that while these steps help, true stroke prevention requires controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, taking prescribed medication regularly, avoiding smoking, staying physically active, managing atrial fibrillation with appropriate anticoagulants, and getting adequate sleep—checking for sleep apnea if snoring is loud.
