Experts’ Warning: These 3 Daily Habits Double the Risk of Stroke

According to SAEDNEWS, citing EatingWell, when it comes to stroke prevention, most people think of well-known factors such as blood pressure management, a balanced diet, physical activity, and quitting smoking. These are indeed the main pillars of vascular health. However, beyond these general lifestyle patterns, there are certain daily habits that carry hidden risks—risks most of us have never even considered.

Dr. Bybing Chen, a board-certified neurologist, recently highlighted three common habits that he personally avoids. He explains that his caution comes from observing rare but very serious cases of stroke during his medical practice.

Although these behaviors may seem harmless to many people, under certain conditions they can trigger a chain of events that may lead to stroke. Below are these three habits and their scientific explanations.

1. Using a massage gun on the neck

Massage guns have become a popular tool in recent years for relieving muscle pain after exercise or reducing tension caused by prolonged sitting. While these devices are great for areas like the calves, thighs, and back, experts recommend that the neck should be a “no-go zone.”

The neck contains vital blood vessels, especially the carotid and vertebral arteries. The carotid arteries run along both sides of the neck, while the vertebral arteries pass through the back of the neck. Together, these vessels supply oxygen-rich blood that the brain needs to function.

Applying aggressive, rapid, and deep-pressure impacts to this sensitive area can cause serious vascular damage. In rare cases, the mechanical force of a massage gun may tear the inner lining of these arteries, a condition known as “dissection.”

When an artery is torn, the body attempts to repair it by forming a blood clot. The real danger occurs when this clot breaks off. Since these arteries directly lead to the brain, the clot can travel upward, block smaller brain vessels, and cause a stroke.

Alternative suggestion: If you have neck stiffness, instead of using high-intensity devices, use gentle stretching, warm compresses, or very light manual massage.

2. Excessive neck hyperextension

This occurs when you tilt your head too far backward, stretching the front of the neck and compressing the back. Many people experience this while painting ceilings, looking at high screens, or washing hair at salon sinks.

While brief movement is not harmful, maintaining this position for a long time can be dangerous. This also involves the vertebral arteries, which pass through small bony openings in the cervical vertebrae. Prolonged backward bending can compress these arteries and temporarily reduce blood flow to the brain. In healthy individuals, this may only cause mild dizziness, but in some cases it can lead to vision changes or even stroke.

Alternative suggestion: Keep your spine in a neutral position. Take frequent breaks when working overhead, and in salons, use neck support (such as a rolled towel) to avoid excessive backward bending.

3. Popping pimples in the “danger triangle”

This may sound like a dramatic movie title, but the “danger triangle” is a real anatomical region. According to Dr. Chen, this triangular area extends from the bridge of the nose to the corners of the mouth, covering the upper lip and parts of the cheeks.

Many people pop pimples on their face, but doing so in this area carries hidden risks. The veins in this region are directly connected to deeper veins inside the skull, which drain into a structure called the cavernous sinus, located just beneath the brain and behind the eye sockets.

Breaking the skin barrier allows bacteria from hands or skin to enter. If these bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can travel backward through these veins into the cavernous sinus. Severe infection in this area can lead to blood clot formation as the body tries to contain it. If a clot forms near this sinus, it can block blood flow and cause serious neurological complications, brain infection, or stroke. Although modern antibiotics have made this condition very rare, the risk still exists.

Final analysis and prevention advice

The human body is highly resilient, and the purpose of these warnings is not to create fear about daily activities. The complications described by Dr. Chen are rare, but they highlight the delicate and critical connections between the neck, face, and brain.

Avoiding powerful massage guns on the neck, preventing prolonged extreme neck extension, and refraining from picking pimples in the facial danger triangle are simple preventive steps to protect vascular health.

Brain health depends on continuous and uninterrupted blood flow, and sometimes small physical precautions can prevent major medical consequences. If you experience sudden neck pain, unexplained dizziness, or signs of severe facial infection, consult a healthcare professional immediately. Prevention is always safer and more effective than treatment.