Photo: Tim Samuel

Is it OK to sleep with high blood pressure?

Excessive reduction of blood pressure during sleep may also be detrimental. Patients with well-controlled hypertension showed a significantly increased risk of stroke when nighttime systolic pressure took extreme dips.

newsroom.heart.org - Abnormal blood pressure levels while sleeping increase risk of heart ...

Can we eat onion daily?

When taken by mouth: Onion is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in food. Onion extract is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people...

Last updated Oct 17, 2022

What is the healthiest chocolate in the world?

Dark chocolate Dark chocolate is best for you because it's the least processed chocolate, which means it contains the highest percentage of...

Last updated May 17, 2018

Promotion

Research Highlights:

Nighttime blood pressure levels that are higher than daytime levels, as well as a pattern of blood pressure rising at night (rather than decreasing slightly), were associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease and heart failure. Even when blood pressure is well controlled during the day, patients who experienced extreme dips in their blood pressure while asleep had a significantly greater risk of stroke compared to those who had normal blood pressure while sleeping. Management of blood pressure while sleeping (nocturnal hypertension) should be a key consideration for health care professionals to help optimize patient outcomes.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Monday, Nov. 2, 2020

DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2020 — People who experience high blood pressure while sleeping are more likely to experience future cardiovascular disease especially heart failure, even when their daytime blood pressure is within normal ranges, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal Circulation. Health care professionals typically use in-office and daytime blood pressure measurements to determine a patient’s hypertension medication needs and dosages. However, many patients may have undetected nocturnal hypertension — high blood pressure while sleeping. “Nighttime blood pressure is increasingly being recognized as a predictor of cardiovascular risk,” said Kazuomi Kario, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study and a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Jichi Medical University in Tochigi, Japan. “This study provides much more in-depth information about the cardiovascular risk associated with high nighttime blood pressure and different nighttime blood pressure phenotypes than have been reported previously.” The Japan Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Prospective (JAMP) study enrolled 6,359 patients from across Japan between 2009 and 2017 and measured daytime and nighttime levels using an at-home, wearable, ambulatory monitor. Blood pressure was measured during daily activities and sleep for at least 24-hours at a time, and device data were periodically downloaded at a health care clinic. Almost half of the study participants were male, and more than half were over the age of 65 years. The patients all had at least one cardiovascular risk factor, and three-quarters of them were taking blood pressure medications, and none had symptomatic cardiovascular disease when the study began. The study participants were instructed to rest or sleep during nighttime hours and maintain their usual daytime activities. Their daily activities and sleep and wake times were self-reported in a diary. Almost every participant recorded 20 daytime and seven nighttime automated blood pressure measurements. To determine nighttime measurements, patients self-reported the time they fell asleep and woke up. All other readings were defined as daytime.

Can grey hair turn black?

Yes, it is possible to get rid of grey hair naturally. Instead of going through several chemical treatments to turn your grey hair into black, we...

Last updated May 23, 2020

How often should a 70 year old man urinate at night?

“It's normal for men as we age to get up to go,” says urologist James Ulchaker, MD. “In fact, it's normal for a 60-year-old man to get up once, a...

Last updated Aug 20, 2018

Promotion

Follow-up occurred annually via phone or clinic visit, with total follow up ranging from two to seven years. Researchers analyzed the rates of cardiovascular disease events, including heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and death, among the participants. The occurrence and timing of heart events in relation to blood pressure variations was analyzed to determine whether there were any associations. Study participants experienced a total of 306 cardiovascular events, including 119 strokes, 99 diagnoses of coronary artery disease and 88 diagnoses of heart failure.

The analysis indicates:

Increased levels during sleep—a systolic blood pressure measuring 20 mm Hg above a person’s daytime systolic reading—was significantly associated with the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure. The participants who had an abnormal circadian pattern, which is when sleep blood pressure exceeds daytime readings, were at particular risk of developing heart failure and had a greater risk of experiencing any cardiovascular disease events. Excessive reduction of blood pressure during sleep may also be detrimental. Patients with well-controlled hypertension showed a significantly increased risk of stroke when nighttime systolic pressure took extreme dips. “Results indicate that nighttime systolic blood pressure was a significant, independent risk factor for cardiovascular events,” said Kario. “The study highlights the importance of including nighttime blood pressure monitoring in patient management strategies and will hopefully encourage physicians to ensure that antihypertensive therapy is effectively lowering blood pressure throughout the 24-hour dosing period.” The authors noted that the study was not without limitations. Ambulatory data were obtained once at the start of the study, however, no information was available regarding the contributions of subsequent changes in ambulatory blood pressure levels up until the time of diagnosis of a cardiac event. The study focused on systolic, rather than diastolic, measurements due to the older age of the participants. Additionally, study evaluations did not include echocardiograms, thus preventing some degree of differentiation for types of heart failure. Co-authors are Satoshi Hoshide, M.D., Ph.D.; Hiroyuki Mizuno, M.D., Ph.D.; Tomoyuki Kabutoya, M.D., Ph.D.; Masafumi Nishizawa, M.D.; Tetsuro Yoshida M.D., Ph.D.; Hideyasu Abe, M.D., Ph.D.; Tomohiro Katsuya, M.D., Ph.D.; Yumiko Fujita, M.D., Ph.D.; Osamu Okazaki, M.D., Ph.D.; Yuichiro Yano, M.D., Ph.D.; Naoko Tomitani, B.Sc.; and Hiroshi Kanegae, B.Sc. Author disclosures are in the manuscript.

How many days can you stay without ejaculating?

It also suggests that people should not exceed 10 days of sexual abstinence. A 2018 study suggests that ejaculatory abstinence periods of more than...

Last updated Jul 16, 2019

Will apple cider vinegar lower my blood pressure quickly?

In essence, yes, it does, but only if it's taken correctly and only for certain types of hypertension. The key in using apple cider vinegar is in...

Last updated Jan 21, 2021

Promotion

This study was financially supported in part by a grant from the Foundation for the Development of the Community (Tochigi). Statements and conclusions of studies published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers are available here, and the Association’s overall financial information is available here.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.