Health
Neurologist names three things that trigger a stroke - yoga, gym and drink
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Neurologist names three things that trigger a stroke - yoga, gym and drink Dr Baibeng Chen says he avoids three risks and advises you do the same A neurologist says there are three things he would never do, in a bid to reduce his chances of having a stroke. Dr Baibing Chen is a double-board-certified expert with first-hand experience of the common ways people risk their brain health - and says there are three rules he has for himself – and recommends others follow. The Michigan doctor who...
Neurologist names three things that trigger a stroke - yoga, gym and drink
Dr Baibeng Chen says he avoids three risks and advises you do the same
A neurologist says there are three things he would never do, in a bid to reduce his chances of having a stroke. Dr Baibing Chen is a double-board-certified expert with first-hand experience of the common ways people risk their brain health - and says there are three rules he has for himself – and recommends others follow.
The Michigan doctor who posts online as Dr Bing said one of the first things you should avoid is yoga, adding: “I’ve seen strokes happen this way.”
He says certain poses can prove dangerous. Dr Chen said: “Yoga overall is fantastic for health, but some poses that force the neck into extreme hyperextension or hyperflexion can be risky. In rare cases, which we have seen, these can lead to dissection, which is a tear in the vessel wall, and that can cause a stroke.
“So staying mindful of your neck position and avoiding extreme strain is very important in yoga.”
When it comes to workouts, while many will assume getting in the gym and lifting weights is perfectly healthy behaviour, Dr Chen has issued another warning. He said: “I don’t do a one rep max, or lift heavy weights while holding my breath.
“This is what we call a heavy lift stroke – where people lift heavy weights while holding their breath and perform a Valsalva manoeuvre. “This can then spike systolic blood pressure to extreme levels – sometimes over 400 – and that is a massive surge of force on the blood vessels in the brain.
“I have seen this trigger brain bleeds. There are safer ways to build strength with controlled breathing and exhaling during exertion. Using submaximal weights with higher reps can get you strong without that extreme pressure spike.”
For fans of sugary energy drinks, the last one will come as an unpleasant surprise. Dr Chen said: “I don’t drink energy drinks – I personally stick to simple coffee in the morning, because many energy drinks pack very high caffeine content, sometimes pushing or exceeding the recommended daily limit for most adults.
“Then you add other stimulants like guarana – which is another source of caffeine – and taurine, which can amplify effects. This combination can disrupt how blood vessels regulate themselves and can increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythms.
“Irregular rhythms can form clots, and those clots can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.”
Dr Chen said that, besides strokes, he has also seen nerve damage caused by the excessive vitamin B in energy drinks. Dr Chen is a board-certified neurologist and epileptologist (a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy and seizures). He completed his medical degree at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, his residency at the Mayo Clinic, and an epilepsy fellowship at the University of Michigan.