An article published in Healthline on November 1, 2020, explaining high blood pressure in the daytime and nighttime risks
According to the researchers, people with high blood pressure when sleeping have a higher risk than daytime hypertension for cardiovascular disease, nighttime blood pressure readings are more accurate than daytime blood pressure readings for circulatory health. They also prefer to monitor blood pressure during periods of sleep.
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Nighttime Blood Pressure
It is normally known that the human body is at ease while sleeping, but sometimes patients with high blood pressure have fatal consequences when blood pressure rises at night during sleep.
The condition in which the blood pressure rises at night is called nocturnal hypertension, it mainly causes different types of cardiovascular diseases and heart failure, as published in the journal Circulation
People who have normal blood pressure during the day can also be affected by nocturnal hypertension, as routine checkups did not show hypertension during the day, making detection difficult
High-Risk Factor
Dr. Kazuomi Kario, Professor of Cardiovascular Medications at JMU (Jichi Medical University) in Tochigi, Japan, says that based on results and reports, nocturnal blood pressure is independently a major risk factor for death from cardiovascular events.
According to the study, monitoring blood pressure at night can help doctors to effectively lower blood pressure during the day by antihypertensive therapy with the 24-hour dosing period method.
To measure blood pressure both during the day and at night, the Japanese researchers used portable monitors on 6359 people. Most of them were using medications to control blood pressure and all had a cardiovascular risk factor, even without any symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
Results of the Study
After following participants for two years to seven years, the researchers found the people with high blood pressure at night were at more risk of heart failure and cardiovascular diseases.
Almost all participants experienced cardiovascular events with a high number of 306.including 99 diagnoses of coronary artery diseases, 88 diagnoses of heart failure, and 119 heart strokes
Found in the study, if blood pressure dropped too low at night for those who control blood pressure with medication are at high risk of stroke
Therefore, low blood pressure while sleeping is also dangerous and has a high risk of stroke, as was also found in a previous study by Kario and his teammates.
Nighttime Spikes Reasons
The people who have high sensitivity to salt intake, their blood pressure increase naturally to excrete extra sodium from kidneys, according to Kario
Normally, blood pressure during the day can excrete sodium from the kidneys, but while someone sensitive to salt intake raises blood pressure not only during the day but also at night to cleanse the kidneys of sodium, it is very good for cleaning the blood, but very bad and harmful to the heart
The purest time to measure blood pressure is while you sleep at night, which shows how the human body system is working, so the ideal time to measure blood pressure is night, not day, according to the doctor Raymond Townsend, expert, and director of Hypertension Program in UP (University of Pennsylvania) and the American Heart Association
Prevention
Taking medication for blood pressure at night improves and controls blood pressure all night and reduces mortality risk. As explained by Dr.Victoria shin, a cardiologist at TMMC(Torrance Memorial Medical Center) in Californa. said all these studies and other researches led physicians and doctors to direct patients to take medicines at night for high blood pressure
Poor sleep quality, sleep apnea, caffeine or alcohol consumption at night, inconsistent bedtime, naps during the day, diabetics, exercise at night, dreams, emotional health, anxiety, and many other stressful events such as the current covid 19 pandemic situation also contribute to a spike in nocturnal hypertension,
Kidney and thyroid problems and other medical conditions also trigger nocturnal hypertension. Experts recommend reducing salt intake, taking mineral corticosteroid receptors to reduce risk, and administering diuretics.
Follow the doctor’s advice, maintain a consistent sleep pattern, maintain sleep time, avoid bad habits such as alcohol and caffeine before bed, use some help and the most recommended medications, such as meditation to manage stress
