If you jolt awake, your sympathetic nervous system kicks into high gear. Your heart pumps harder and faster, spiking your blood pressure. That makes the tiny blood vessels in your brain more likely to burst, leading to a hemorrhagic stroke.
Dr. Quang also suggests that after waking, lie down for a minute or two. Use your hands to massage your face, head, eyes, and neck to fully wake up before getting out of bed.
- Downing a glass of diluted salt water right after waking
Lots of people do this, thinking it’s great for killing mouth bacteria, strengthening teeth and gums.
But that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea first thing in the morning. We’ve long been warned that too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, strokes, and kidney damage.