Home Blood Pressure Testing
Blood pressure tests can also be carried out at home using your own blood pressure monitor.
Like 24-hour or ambulatory monitoring, this can give a better reflection of your blood pressure.
It can also allow you to monitor your condition more easily in the long term.
You can buy a variety of low-cost monitors so you can test your blood pressure at home or while you’re out and about.
Measure your blood pressure twice a day, ideally in the morning and the evening, while you’re sitting down.
Each time take 2 readings, 1 minute apart. Continue to measure your blood pressure twice a day for 7 days.
Your doctor or nurse will use this information to work out your average blood pressure.
It’s important to make sure you use equipment that’s been properly tested.
The British Hypertension Society has information about validated blood pressure monitors that are available to buy.
What Happens If You Have Morning Hypertension
If you have hypertension, specifically morning hypertension, you have a stronger risk of stroke compared to others with hypertension but not in the morning.
is able to cause a stroke, or a sudden loss of brain function because of a lack of supply of blood to the brain. Morning hypertension can also raise your risk of other blood vessel and heart problems. Changes in your heartys size and rhythm have been associated with it, and this can lead to heart failure or a heart attack. Speak with your doctor right away if you go through any symptoms such as chest pain, severe headache or numbness in your arms or face.
Why Is Blood Pressure Higher In The Morning: Causes
Circadian rhythm is the main reason why blood pressure increases as soon as you wake up in the morning. Circadian rhythm is referred to a 24 hours cycle that affects both your sleep and wake up patterns.
As earlier said, the increase in blood pressure in the morning starts between 6:00am to early afternoon. This is due to the hormones your body releases called the adrenaline and noradrenaline. These hormones boosts your energy but also rises your blood pressure.
Other common causes of a high blood pressure in the morning includes
1. Taking medications that is low in dosage to treat your high blood pressure could further increase it.
2. Taking a single antihypertensive medication instead of a combination of medicines prescribed by your doctor give you a serious high blood pressure.
3. Some medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, scleroderma, thyroid disorder s and even an untreated blood pressure.
4. Stress
7. Eating meals high in saturated fat
8. Smoking
9. Taking too much alcohol
10. Excess intake of caffeine
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What Are The Risk Factors For Developing Morning Hypertension
You may be at an increased risk of developing morning hypertension if:
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You have a family history of high blood pressure
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You are over the age of 60
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You are of Asian, African, or Caribbean descent.¹ It’s not clear why people of certain races experience higher rates of hypertension.¹¹
Some lifestyle choices and factors may also increase your risk of developing morning hypertension. These include:
Changes to your lifestyle may help bring your blood pressure levels down to normal. This can reduce your risk of developing heart disease and other serious medical conditions. A doctor or cardiologist can help you develop a preventative care plan.
High Blood Pressure: What Is Morning Hypertension And How To Curb It
High Blood Pressure aka high BP is one of the common ailments in the world. Did you know that one in three people suffer the same? Today we are talking about morning hypertension Read on to know more.
High Blood Pressure aka high BP is one of the common ailments in the world. Did you know that one in three people suffer the same? Today we are talking about morning hypertension. Blood pressure keeps fluctuating throughout the day and tends to increase during the morning. However, for many people, blood pressure can be abnormally high in the mornings and the same is known as morning hypertension.
The morning hypertension is of great concern as the same can lead to stroke and heart attack. As per a study, stroke and other serious cardiac-related conditions happen after the first 46 hours after waking. It is vital to know the causes of high BP and how one can curb it. Speaking of causes of high levels of hypertension during the morning, the same include stress or anxiety, lack of physical activity, poor diet and lifestyle, too much consumption of salt, smoking, too much alcohol intake and obesity among others. Other health complications that can put people at higher risk of morning hypertension are high cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases, sleep apnea, diabetes, thyroid, lupus and kidney diseases among others.
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Why Is Blood Pressure Higher In The Morning
A persons blood pressure changes throughout the day and, in particular, rises during the morning. For many people, high blood pressure in the morning might be excessive. Knowing what your morning blood pressure is like and taking steps to keep it within the normal range throughout your day can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
In recent studies, measuring blood pressure in the morning is a more accurate way to predict stroke risk than measuring it in the evening, especially for people with high blood pressure.In this article, we are discussing the question, Why is blood pressure higher in the morning?
We will delve into the causes and effects of higher BP in the morning and outline some steps a person can take to prevent and control it. Continue reading to discover more!
Why Is Knowing Your Blood Pressure Important
An awareness of your blood pressure is essential in managing your overall health. Checking it regularly can help diagnose any issues with your health as soon as possible. Blood pressure management is crucial if you are at higher risk of heart disease and other conditions.
Risk factors include certain lifestyle factors, medical conditions, and family history. Taking a blood pressure reading informs you of whether you have high or low blood pressure. High blood pressure doesnt tend to have noticeable symptoms. Therefore, measuring your blood pressure is the only means to determine for sure if yours is high or normal.
If you can identify hypertension, you can take steps to return to normal blood pressure. In doing so, you reduce your risk of heart attack and other health issues. A healthy diet, stress management, and increased physical activity might help you lower your BP significantly.
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Preventing High Blood Pressure In The Morning
Prevention can be just as important as treatment. Prevention allows you to get ahead of the issue before it becomes a problem. There are many different steps you can take to prevent high blood pressure in the morning.
These steps include the following:
- Eat healthy foods: Eating healthy foods can reduce your salt intake and improve your overall health.
- Limit alcohol consumption.
- Keep up with your medication management plan for high blood pressure and other health concerns.
- Attend doctors appointments regularly.
- Reduce stress levels.
Typical Blood Pressure Pattern
Blood pressure changes throughout the 24-hour period and follows a pattern. During the night, blood pressure may lower as much as 10% to 30% 1. If youre having a good sleep, your body and mind relaxes and there are no outside distractions you would experience during the day. In addition, the heart rate decreases.
In the morning you could say, BP wakes up with us as your body experiences changes. Hormone activity like adrenaline increases. An increase in physical movement raises your heart rate. You may experience some form of stress. All the morning activity may cause higher blood pressure 2.
During the day, your blood pressure fluctuates up and down. While performing daily activities, your body is constantly changing positions. In addition your physical exertion changes and your mind can be relaxed one minute and stressed the next 3.
Certain blood pressure fluctuations are the fault of the person. One reason will force you to run to the bathroom which you can read about it in my blog post right here, Fluctuating Blood Pressure.
Some people may experience higher blood pressure in the morning for reasons untypical of the daily pattern. In addition, their blood pressure may increase to a higher measurement than what it would have typically. This can happen for many reasons which leads me to the next topics.
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How Do I Know If I Have Morning Hypertension
Hypertension is often called the “silent killer.” There are usually no noticeable symptoms until it causes a serious medical emergency. Unless you always have routine check-ups with your doctor in the morning, cases of morning hypertension can easily be missed.
The best way to know if you have morning hypertension is through regular blood pressure checks with your doctor in the morning. This will help them document your baseline levels and identify any increases in your blood pressure over time.
Your doctor will put a blood pressure cuff on your arm and inflate it with air to check your blood pressure. It can be performed manually with a stethoscope or by machine. It only takes a few minutes to get the reading, and while having your arm constricted by the cuff may be briefly uncomfortable, it shouldn’t hurt.
Your doctor may also recommend wearing an ambulatory 24-hour blood pressure monitor for a few days. This type of monitor will give the most accurate readings and how they fluctuate throughout the day, instead of relying on a single measurement in your doctors office. There is evidence that this type of monitoring, along with taking blood pressure medication at night when the pressures are typically lower, can help reduce the risk of a major cardiovascular event.¹²
Your doctor may also order tests to check your heart’s activity or request an ultrasound of the heart to rule out any underlying cause for your high blood pressure.
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Having a raised blood pressure reading in 1 test does not necessarily mean you have high blood pressure.
Blood pressure can fluctuate throughout the day. Feeling anxious or stressed when you visit your GP can also raise your blood pressure.
If you have a high reading, you may be asked to take some readings with a 24-hour monitor that checks your blood pressure throughout the day.
This will confirm whether you have consistently high blood pressure.
It’s known as 24-hour or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
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How K Health Can Help
Skip the long wait at the doctors officeyou can chat with a K Health primary care provider in minutes to discuss your blood pressure concerns.
to check your symptoms, explore conditions and treatments, and if needed text with a doctor in minutes. K Healths AI-powered app is HIPAA compliant and based on 20 years of clinical data.
Who Is At Risk For Morning Hypertension
Populations at higher risk of developing complications related to high blood pressure include the following: 7
- South American.
Certain medical conditions placed people at risk for experiencing high blood pressure in the morning. These conditions included the following:
- Glucose abnormality.
- Metabolic syndrome .
- Insomnia or poor sleep quality.
- Nocturnal Hypoxia .
High blood pressure in the morning was also found to be more prevalent based on certain environmental factors.
- High salt intake.
- Winter time or cold outside temp.
- High levels of physical activity upon waking.
- High-stress levels.
- Increased alcohol consumption.
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What Is A Healthy Blood Pressure Reading
Your blood pressure measures the force of the blood being pushed through your body as your heart beats.
The first number is called your systolic pressure. It measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart pumps. The second number is called your diastolic pressure, which measures the pressure in your blood vessels in between heartbeats.
A blood pressure reading is considered healthy if it is 120/80 millimeters of mercury or below. Any blood pressure above this is considered elevated or abnormal.
A single blood pressure reading in the higher range isnt cause for concern, but if youre regularly getting higher readings, a medical professional will make a plan to help you lower your numbers.
Elevated blood pressure categories include:
Why Is The Timing Of Your Medication Important
According to AARP, blood pressure follows a daily rhythm. It rises higher during the day and falls at night when we sleep.
Since morning blood pressure is usually highest, people often opt to take their medications then. Many also feel that it is easier to remember morning medications.
Also, since many medications cause urination, people may prefer to take them early in the day.
As we age, however, we may develop a blood pressure pattern called non-dipping. Non-dipping blood pressure tends to remain high overnight.
People ages 55 and older with high blood pressure are more prone to non-dipping.
Non-dipping blood pressure is a problem because it is a major risk factor for several conditions, including heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.
Overnight blood pressure control is important in order to lower your risk.
If your medication wears off before your next dose is due, your blood pressure may be elevated for several hours while you sleep. You may also wake with high blood pressure.
Taking your medication at bedtime may help prevent this issue.
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When Should You Take Your Blood Pressure In The Morning
Take your blood pressure after about an hour after you wake up. Take measurements twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening .
You should take the first measurement in the early morning before eating breakfast, taking any medications, or exercising. However, you should not take the measurement immediately upon waking up.
For a more accurate result, its best to take 23 readings, one minute apart. It is also helpful to take the measurements at the same time each day to identify your daily pattern. That way, your healthcare team can figure out your average BP.
Sit upright with your legs uncrossed and feet flat on the floor when taking the reading.
Why Is My Blood Pressure Higher In The Morning
An elevated morning blood pressure may not mean much at first, but when we monitor blood pressure regularly, you may start to notice a pattern. Blood pressure is typically at its lowest in the morning when you first wake up, and highest towards the afternoon or evening. But when your blood pressure in the morning is higher than during the rest of the day, this could put you at a higher risk, and may be a sign of another problem. If you often see higher blood pressure readings in the mornings, hereâs the potential cause and what to do about it.
Blood pressure has a daily pattern. Usually, blood pressure starts to rise a few hours before a person wakes up. It continues to rise during the day, peaking in midday. Blood pressure typically drops in the late afternoon and evening. A rise in blood pressure overnight to early morning has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
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Slightly Higher Blood Pressure In The Morning Is Normal Because Your Blood Pressure Falls At Night And Needs To Work A Little Harder When You Wake Up A Very Large Increase Should Be Reported To Your Doctor
Let your doctor know if you have a morning blood pressure that is 10 points above your daytime blood pressure.
©AleksandarNakic | Getty Images
If you monitor your blood pressure at home, you may notice that your pressure is usually higher in the early morning. This is normal because your blood pressure has a normal variation that follows your bodys biological clock, also called your circadian rhythm. Blood pressure is higher a few hours before and after waking up. It peaks at about midday, drops in the evening, and is lowest during deep sleep, called your nocturnal blood pressure.
Some people have a higher increase in morning blood pressure, called a morning blood pressure surge . It is known that most strokes, heart attacks, and sudden deaths occur in the early morning, so for several years researchers have been trying to find out if MBPS is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease . The research has not been conclusive, but it seems to suggest that there is a slightly higher risk, especially for stroke, that increases as MBPS increases.
Daily Blood Pressure Pattern
Blood pressure follows a daily pattern. It is normally lower at night while you are sleeping and starts to rise a few hours before you wake up. This rise in BP continues during the day, usually peaking in the middle of the afternoon. By late afternoon or evening, your BP would begin to drop again.
Some people experience abnormality in their BP pattern. One of it is a morning surge in BP , which results in increased risk of damage to the brain, heart and kidneys. Morning hypertension could also happen in those with well-controlled BP.
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The General Cause Of Morning Hypertension
Because of the bodys natural internal clock, blood pressure rises when you first wake up every morning. Your sleep/wake habits are affected by your circadian rhythm, which is a daily 24-hour activity phase. Specific hormones, such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, are released in the morning by the body.
These hormones improve your energy while simultaneously raising your blood pressure. Between 6 a.m. and midday, this rise in blood pressure is common. If the blood pressure becomes too high, it might cause harm.