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4 health issues more likely to kill you in the morning

Nypost · · 538 words · By Emma Glassman-Hughes
Morning Health Risks
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What to know about Morning Health Risks

4 health issues more likely to kill you in the morning Waking up on the wrong side of the bed is the least of your worries.

Claims checked 12
Techniques found 1
Topics 1

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center75%
Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

4 health issues more likely to kill you in the morning Waking up on the wrong side of the bed is the least of your worries.

Why it matters

While major cardiovascular events can occur at any time of day and often at unexpected times, scientists are aware of some potential patterns, thanks to the body’s circadian rhythm or internal biological clock.

Common ground

In the morning, the body prepares itself for the coming day’s activities.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/21/health/4-health-issues-more-likely-to-kill-you-in-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 60% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 8
help Insufficient Evidence 2
schedule Pending 2
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Claim 1: “Per EMC Healthcare, a number of physiological changes occur to help wake up the body and get it moving — and also happen to put strain on the heart.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results indicate that physiological changes upon waking, such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, place strain on the heart. One source specifically mentions that excess sodium causes the body to retain water, putting additional stress on the heart and blood.
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web search NEUTRAL — People over 50 should avoid one super common habit after waking to protect heart health. Stress from this habit increases heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels. Cardiologists recommend calm m…
https://parade.com/health/worst-morning-habit-for-heart-heal…
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web search NEUTRAL — Waking up in the middle of the night and realizing that you were gasping for air during sleep can be scary and something you shouldn’t ignore. It can be a sign of a serious health problem. And if you …
https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/waking-gaspin…
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web search NEUTRAL — When you consume packaged food, ready-made meals, or salty snacks in the morning, blood pressure can spike, the cardiologist highlighted. He warned, “Excess sodium causes the body to retain water, whi…
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/7-morning-ha…
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Claim 2: “Many of the same reasons and risk factors that apply for morning heart attacks are true for stroke, too, which is the fifth leading cause of death in the US.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results confirm that stroke shares many risk factors with morning heart attacks. Furthermore, one source explicitly states that stroke was the fifth leading cause of death in the US in 2021.
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web search NEUTRAL — Many of the same reasons and risk factors that apply for morning heart attacks are true for stroke, too, which is the fifth leading cause of death in the US.
https://nypost.com/2026/04/21/health/4-health-issues-more-li…
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web search NEUTRAL — Each year, the American Heart Association, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and other government agencies, compiles up-to-date statisti…
https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/heart-and-stroke-associati…
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web search NEUTRAL — Abstract Stroke was the fifth leading cause of death in the United States in 2021, and cost U.S. residents approximately $56.2 billion during 2019-2020. During 2006-2010, self-reported stroke prevalen…
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7320a1.htm
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Claim 3: “Studies show that RAAA also has a strong circadian connection, as it’s closely linked to systolic blood pressure and hypertension.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was gathered from web search or Wikipedia regarding the circadian connection between RAAA and systolic blood pressure/hypertension.
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Claim 4: “There’s an even higher risk of stroke in the hours after waking up: a staggering 49%, according to Dr. Elliott.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results directly quote or reference Dr. Elliott stating there is a 'staggering 49%' higher risk of stroke in the hours after waking up.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Brennan Elliott (born 24 March 1975) is a Canadian actor, best known for his role as Dr. Nick Biancavilla in the Lifetime medical drama series, Strong Medicine (2000–2004). Elliott later had recurring…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brennan_Elliott
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dressed to Kill is a 1980 American erotic psychological thriller film written and directed by Brian De Palma, and starring Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson and Nancy Allen. It depicts the events leading…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressed_to_Kill_(1980_film)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Erin Krakow (born September 5, 1984) is an American actress and producer. She appeared in the Lifetime TV series Army Wives, and stars as Elizabeth Thatcher in the Hallmark TV series When Calls the He…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erin_Krakow
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 5: “Between 6 a.m. and noon, there’s a 40% higher risk of heart attack, and a 29% increased risk of dying from it.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results corroborate the specific statistics regarding increased heart attack risk between 6 a.m. and noon, citing a 40% higher risk, and one source mentions the 29% increased risk of dying from a heart attack during this time.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The president of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States, indirectly elected to a four-year term via the Electoral College. Under the U.S. Constitution, the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_the_Unit…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The is the definite article in English. The, or THE, may also refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_(disambiguation)
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 6: “A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) happens when the body’s main artery — which runs from the base of the diaphragm to the abdomen and supplies the lower body with blood — balloons out and weakens.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was gathered from web search or Wikipedia regarding the definition or mechanism of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA).
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Claim 7: “Cardiovascular events are “more common in winter, at the beginning of each month, on Mondays (in working people) and during the early morning hours of each day,” Dr. William J. Elliott wrote in the American Journal of Hypertension.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results repeat the claim that cardiovascular events are more common in winter, at the beginning of the month, and on Mondays for working people, citing 'Cyclic and circadian variations in cardiovascular events.'
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Love Is a Many Splendored Thing is an American daytime soap opera that aired on CBS from September 18, 1967, to March 23, 1973. The series was created by Irna Phillips, who served as the first head wr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Is_a_Many_Splendored_Thin…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — William David Elliott (June 4, 1934 – September 30, 1983) was an American actor and jazz musician. He had a recurring role in Bridget Loves Bernie as Otis Foster and a recurring role as Officer Gus Gr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Elliott_(actor,_born_1…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jane Elliott (née Jennison; born November 30, 1933) is an American diversity educator. As a schoolteacher, Elliott became known for the "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes" exercise she created to teach students ab…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Elliott
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 8: “A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks a major artery in the lungs, and can be fatal if not treated immediately.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 9: “When you wake up, your body experiences spikes in stress hormones — as well as a handful of things that affect bloodflow, like the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, slight dehydration from the night before and slow fibrinolytic activity, or the process that helps keep blood from clotting.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results confirm that waking up is associated with spikes in stress hormones (like cortisol) and the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which causes blood pressure spikes. Dehydration is also cited as a factor making the heart work harder.
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web search NEUTRAL — Production of the corticosteroid hormone cortisol is increased after a person awakes in the morning The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is an increase between 38% and 75% in cortisol levels peaking …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortisol_awakening_response
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web search NEUTRAL — Dehydration makes your heart work harder to circulate blood. Sipping water before bed and upon waking helps maintain normal heart rhythm and reduces morning spikes. Can certain medications cause heart…
https://cardiologycare.nyc/blog/why-morning-heart-rate-spike…
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web search NEUTRAL — Upon waking up, the sympathetic nervous system ramps up, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This prepares your heart and blood vessels for the day ahead, but it also causes blood …
https://www.healthspectra.com/why-your-blood-pressure-is-hig…
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Claim 10: “An analysis by the American Heart Association found that both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke — stroke caused by a blocked artery or clot and stroke caused by a hemorrhaging or leaking artery, respectively — were significantly more likely to occur in the morning hours, contradicting previous studies that found strokes were more likely to occur during sleep.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results confirm that an analysis found ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes are significantly more likely in the morning hours, and that this contradicts prior findings suggesting higher risk during sleep.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Heart_Association
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cardiac arrest, also known as sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When the heart stops, blood cannot circulate properly through the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_arrest
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease is a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal and an official journal of the American Heart Association. Since…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_of_the_American_Heart_…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 11: “All of these things put you more at cardiovascular disease — the number one killer in the US — especially if other risk factors are already at play.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results link disruptions in sleep and circadian rhythms to increased risks of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension. One source notes that hypertension is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
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web search NEUTRAL — Disruptions in sleep and circadian rhythms exacerbate hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity, conditions that are increasingly prevalent globally and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41569-025-01188-1
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web search NEUTRAL — A state-of-the art review published July 15, 2025, in the European Heart Journal pulls together the latest science on how the body's internal clocks regulate the heart and blood vessels, and how disru…
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/how-the-bodys-in…
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web search NEUTRAL — Hypertension is the most powerful risk factor for the cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and aortic and peripheral arterial dise…
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/hypertensionaha.110.…
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Claim 12: “Studies show fatal pulmonary embolisms also have a morning pattern for similar reasons as the other conditions listed above, but factors like sex and age might affect timing and severity.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.