A seemingly harmless habit of forcefully cracking the neck to relieve stiffness may, in rare cases, trigger a life-threatening stroke, according to physician Dr. Priyam Bordoloi, who recently shared the case of a 34-year-old man.
The doctor said the patient was otherwise healthy. He had normal blood pressure, did not have diabetes, did not smoke, and regularly ran 5 km on weekends. However, he suddenly developed stroke symptoms while working at his computer.
Sudden stroke despite being healthy
According to Dr. Bordoloi, the man experienced sudden dizziness, drooping of the right side of his face, weakness in his right arm, and slurred speech. Recognising the warning signs, his wife rushed him to a hospital without delay.
Doctors stress that the first 4.5 hours after an ischemic stroke are considered the "golden window," when timely treatment can significantly improve outcomes.
What caused the stroke?
Medical imaging ruled out common causes such as high cholesterol and uncontrolled hypertension.
When doctors asked whether he had suffered any recent injury, the patient said he had not. However, he admitted to frequently forcefully twisting and "cracking" his neck several times a day to ease stiffness from long hours at his desk.
