Drinking Water in the Middle of the Night: A Potential Risk That Can Cause Sudden Death
One night, Mr. Zhang, 40 years old, living in China, encountered a serious incident after his habit of drinking water in the middle of the night. While he had a normal life and good health, his habit of drinking water in the middle of the night led to his sudden death. That night, when he woke up to drink water as usual, he suddenly fell to the ground, breathing heavily and with a weak heartbeat. Although his wife immediately called an ambulance, he still did not survive.
Mr. Zhang’s sudden passing left his family shocked and confused: “How could he die after just drinking a little water?” Doctors explained that drinking too much water at night, especially certain types of water, can put a lot of pressure on the cardiovascular system and lead to sudden death. This story not only shocked Mr. Truong’s family but also made us consider the health risks associated with the habit of drinking water at night.
Health Risks of Drinking Water at Night: What You Need to Know
Drinking water at night is often considered a healthy habit, especially for the elderly. However, recent studies have shown that this habit can pose many health risks, especially related to the cardiovascular system.
In 2021, a study in the UK followed 5,000 people over the age of 60 for 5 years to study the effects of drinking water at night on sleep quality and cardiovascular health. The results showed that drinking too much water at night can reduce deep sleep time, leading to increased blood pressure and heart rate fluctuations. This increases the risk of serious cardiovascular problems. Specifically, 15% of study participants who drank too much water at night had cardiovascular events, while this rate was lower in those who drank moderately or did not drink water at night.
Another experiment with 50 healthy elderly people showed that the heart rate and blood pressure of the group who drank water at night fluctuated significantly within 15 minutes after waking up. Some people even experienced short-term arrhythmias. The increased burden on the cardiovascular system, especially in the elderly, can lead to serious complications such as sudden death.
When the body is at rest at night, the load on the heart is light, blood pressure and heart rate are usually low. Drinking water at night increases blood circulation, leading to high blood pressure and disrupting deep sleep – an important stage for cardiovascular recovery. Lack of deep sleep can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, increasing the burden on the heart. Older adults who wake up frequently at night may experience a 30% reduction in deep sleep time, leading to daytime fatigue and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
It’s Better to Go Without Thirst Than Drink These Drinks at Night
Drinking water at night can cause serious health problems not only because of the amount of water consumed, but also because of the type of water you choose. Some drinks can have a more negative impact on the cardiovascular system due to stimulants or high sugar content.
Stimulating drinks such as coffee or tea can increase the heart rate at night, causing fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular events. At the same time, drinks high in sugar can cause large fluctuations in blood sugar, leading to serious cardiovascular problems at night.
Diuretic drinks can help remove excess water from the body, but they can increase the frequency of waking up at night, disrupting sleep and affecting overall health.
Foods and drinks high in salt can cause water retention in the body and lead to high blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, choosing what to drink at night should be carefully considered to avoid negative health effects.
