Low Blood Pressure At Night

Who Are The Extra Dippers

Night-time blood pressure in daily home practice

There are two types of people who are more likely to be extra dippers: diabetics and people with sleep apnea. Extreme dipping and lack of oxygen may explain way diabetics are chronically tired, prone to nerve damage, and have higher incidence of vision loss. Extreme dipping is also frequent among people with arterial plague.

You Shouldn’t Ignore White Coat Hypertension

Some people experience white coat hypertension, when blood pressure is elevated in the doctor’s office but not in other settings. These patients need to monitor their blood pressure at home or wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor that takes your blood pressure every 30 minutes for 24 hours.

While white coat hypertension was formerly considered simple nervousness, recent research suggests otherwise.

A study published in the journal Hypertension found that people with white coat hypertension are at a significantly greater risk for developing sustained high blood pressure than people who have normal blood pressure. One possible explanation is that people with white coat hypertension have a harder time managing stress and anxiety.

What Can I Expect If I Have Low Blood Pressure

If you have hypotension, what you can expect depends on what causes it and if you have symptoms. If you dont have symptoms, its unlikely that hypotension will be a problem for you.

If you have symptoms, hypotension can interfere with your ability to stand up, care for yourself, cook, drive and do many other activities. Thats why understanding the condition and following a healthcare providers guidance are so important to minimizing this conditions impact on your life.

How long does low blood pressure last?

How long this condition lasts depends very much on what caused it. If you have hypotension because of normal aging, itll probably be a lifelong concern.

Outlook for low blood pressure

If you have low blood pressure but dont have symptoms, this condition usually isnt harmful and shouldnt impact your life.

If you do have symptoms, the underlying cause is usually what determines the outlook for this condition. Your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you what to expect from this condition and what you can do to manage those effects.

Complications that can happen because of hypotension include:

Good Sleep Can Prevent And Manage High Blood Pressure

Most people experience a dip in blood pressure during the deepest stage of sleep , which is the body’s normal and healthy reaction to sleep. Not having that nighttime dip is a risk factor for heart disease and may increase daytime blood pressure.

Typically people spend 90 minutes to two hours in slow wave sleep per night. A recent study published in Hypertension found that men who got less slow wave sleep each night were a higher risk for hypertension than men who got more deep sleep.

While sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, and age can both affect the amount of deep sleep you get, there are steps you can take to ensure a good night’s sleep. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and being more active during the day can help improve the quality of your sleep.

Why Taking Blood Pressure Meds At Bedtime May Be More Effective

Life after a " STROKE" : #1 HEALING PRAYER father suarez CYBER HEALING CENTER

New research suggests that taking your blood pressure medication at bedtime may more effectively reduce your risk of illness or death due to heart and blood vessel disease.
Timing of medication is important because blood pressure follows a daily rhythm. It rises higher during the day and falls at night when we sleep.
Rather than taking a blanket approach, experts say any medication regimen should be personalized for you based on a discussion with your physician.

Should you be taking your blood pressure medication at bedtime rather than in the morning?

Research published in the October 22, 2019, issue of the European Heart Journal suggests that maybe you should.

In the study, the researchers followed 19,084 patients with high blood pressure for a median of 6 years.

The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: those who took their blood pressure medication in the morning and those who took it at bedtime.

The researchers found that bedtime medication seemed to make a difference for patients as they had better nighttime blood pressure.

They also had less risk of illness or death due to heart and blood vessel disease.

You May Like: Does Red Wine Lower Blood Pressure

What Is Low Blood Pressure

Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is when your blood pressures much lower than expected. It can happen either as a condition on its own or as a symptom of a wide range of conditions. It may not cause symptoms, but when it does, it can require medical attention.

Hypotension has two definitions:

Absolute hypotension: Your resting blood pressure is below 90/60 millimeters of mercury .
Orthostatic hypotension: Your blood pressure remains low for longer than three minutes of you standing up from a sitting position. The drop must be 20 millimeters of mercury or more for your systolic pressure and 10 millimeters of mercury or more for your diastolic pressure. Another name for this is postural hypotension because it happens with changes in posture.

Measuring blood pressure involves two numbers in millimeters of mercury.

Systolic : This is the pressure on your arteries each time your heart beats.
Diastolic : This is how much pressure your arteries are under between heartbeats.

How does low blood pressure affect my body?

Usually, your body can automatically control your blood pressure and keep it from dropping too much. If it starts to drop, your body tries to make up for that, either by speeding up your heart rate or constricting blood vessels to make them narrower. Symptoms of hypotension happen when your body cant offset the drop in blood pressure.

Who does low blood pressure affect?

How common is low blood pressure?

Blood Pressure Is Linked To Other Medical Issues

High blood pressure can be the first indication of a serious underlying condition. When a patient comes in with high blood pressure, doctors will check their urine and kidney function do an electrocardiogram to check the size of the heart and look for lung changes.

Stress on the blood vessels makes people with hypertension more prone to heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and aneurysms. Correspondingly, chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, sleep apnea and high cholesterol increase the risk for developing high blood pressure.

In some women, pregnancy can contribute to high blood pressure, leading to preeclampsia. Postpartum blood pressure typically goes back to normal levels within six weeks. However, some women who have high blood pressure during more than one pregnancy may be more likely to develop high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases as they age.

Some of these medical issues can also cause spikes in high blood pressure .

Don’t Miss: How To Tell If You Have Low Blood Pressure

Excessive Salt Raises Blood Pressure

Too much sodium can cause water retention that puts increased pressure on your heart and blood vessels. People with high blood pressure and those at a high risk for developing hypertension, including adults over 50 and black men and women, should have no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium daily of salt.

Even people with normal levels should eat salt in moderation. Stick to no more than 2,300 mg of sodium , per day.

Most dietary sodium comes from processed foods. Rules of thumb are to choose foods with 5% or less of the daily value of sodium per serving and opt for fresh poultry, fish and lean meats, rather than canned, smoked or processed. Similarly, fresh or frozen vegetables are better than canned.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that if people cut just 1/2 teaspoon of salt per day, it could help lower the number of new cases of heart disease per year by up to 120,000.

Further, potassium found in foods like sweet potatoes, spinach, bananas, oranges, low-fat milk and halibut can counterbalance the pressure-increasing effects of sodium by helping to rid the body of excess sodium.

How Do I Take Care Of Myself

Best Time to Take Blood Pressure Medicine

If you have hypotension with symptoms, the best thing you can do is follow your healthcare providers guidance on managing this condition. Their recommendations may include any of the following:

Manage your diet: Following diet recommendations, especially how much salt you should have in your diet, can help prevent symptoms of hypotension.
Take your medication: These can help you avoid the disruptive symptoms and effects of low blood pressure.
Dress up: Compression socks, which put light pressure on your legs and feet, can push blood upward and raise your blood pressure.
Take it slow: Avoid standing up too quickly, especially with orthostatic hypotension. That can help you avoid the dizziness and fainting effects of hypotension.
Have a seat: If you notice yourself feeling dizzy or lightheaded, sit down. Falling from a standing height can put you at risk for severe or even catastrophic injuries from a fall, such as a broken hip, concussion, skull fracture or broken ribs.

Read Also: Why Blood Pressure Is High

What If Blood Pressure Doesnt Go Down At Night

While extreme dipping is a sign of compromised health, a complete lack of dipping isnt healthy either. Studies correlated lack of blood pressure fluctuations at night with poorer sleep, night waking, and sleep apnea.

Non-dipping was also associated with enhanced risk of cardiovascular events such as strokes and heart attacks as well as endocrine and nervous system dysfunctions including hyperthyroid and various neuropathies . Non-dippers reported experiencing more stress, and have stronger family history of hypertension.

Understanding Your Blood Pressure At Night

Were very proud to have developed the only solution on the market that can easily measure blood pressure while youre sleeping. Aktiias home blood pressure monitor takes readings continuously and automatically, every 90 minutes during the day and throughout the night. You wont be aware its happening, so theres no risk of anxiety about your blood pressure contributing to elevated readings.

Understanding your blood pressure and monitoring changes 24/7 is an important step towards taking control of your health. You might want to take a look at our guide on how to use a blood pressure monitor and our Blood Pressure Monitor Buying Guide.

Recommended Reading: How To Bring Blood Pressure Down Naturally

What If You Have An Unusual Schedule

Some people dont follow a “typical” daily schedule where theyre awake when its light and asleep when its dark, perhaps because they work night shifts or their work rota changes. But how does this affect blood pressure?

A study showed that in people who reversed their routine , their daily rhythm adapted. Their blood pressure started to drop during the day and rise at night when they were awake.

However, sleep quality was found to be lower for night shift workers which can cause blood pressure complications.

Another study suggested that poor-quality sleep negatively impacts the normal blood pressure dip, while a bad nights sleep can cause a blood pressure spike when you wake up. These effects are risk factors for high blood pressure.

Its important to note that not all studies support this argument one study concluded shift work does not cause high blood pressure. This might suggest that some people adapt more easily than others, and sticking to a reversed schedule and avoiding rotating shifts could make it easier for your body to adjust.

What Kind Of Patterns Signalize Abnormal Blood Pressure

Abnormal blood pressure may look like this:

High blood pressure in the early morning
High blood pressure at night or during sleep
Your blood pressure drops less than 10% during the night .

It’s important to pay attention to signs of abnormal behaviour in your blood pressure, especially at night, because, if left untreated, it can increase your risk of heart disease.

What Causes Low Blood Pressure

Some people have a blood pressure level that is naturally low. That is, there is no specific cause or reason why. It can be the result of a healthy lifestyle and being fit and active, and your genes may play a role.

Your blood pressure varies throughout the day. It might drop when youve just eaten while your blood is carried to your gut, if youve been standing up for a long time, if youre dehydrated, and if the temperature is warm.

There are a number of other possible causes of low blood pressure:

MedicationsLow blood pressure, and low blood pressure when you stand up, can be caused by medications. These include , antidepressants and beta blockers, which are used to treat heart problems.

Health problemsLow blood pressure can also be caused by an illness or health problem.

Why You Must Turn Into A Detective Yourself

Heart numbers are not steady through the day. They are subject to diurnal fluctuations. Many of those fluctuations are completely normal and are meant to happen. But some arent so normal. These abnormal swings can present a problem and lead to variety of symptoms .

The ever present circulatory instability creates confusion for patients and presents a diagnostic problem for doctors. Imagine that only a specific part of the day, such as the morning, feels unwell and the rest of the day feels just fine. How can one make sense out of that? Exactly because of constantly fluctuating blood pressure, hypotension tends to be missed or misdiagnosed by health care providers.

Don’t Miss: Allyn Welch Blood Pressure Monitor

Is It Possible To Stabilize Blood Pressure And Reduce Fluctuations

Blood pressure fluctuations can make it challenging to take an accurate, meaningful reading, and severe fluctuations can increase your risk of health problems. You might be wondering if there’s anything you can do to reduce this variability and stabilize your blood pressure.

Your first priority should be to continue taking your medication as directed. Your blood pressure should stabilize with effective treatment, so talk to your doctor if youre concerned about your readings.

If medication is ineffective, you might have resistant hypertension or an underlying health condition.

Your doctor can make specific suggestions depending on your individual symptoms and how your blood pressure fluctuates. This might include taking your blood pressure medication at bedtime to reduce nighttime blood pressure, taking them in the morning if your blood pressure is dropping too low, or exercising at a different time of day.

If you have resistant hypertension, there are surgical treatments available as a last-resort option.

What Can I Do For Myself

Lowering Blood Pressure in 5 Minutes

There are other things you can do for yourself to help with your symptoms.

Wear supportive elastic stockings . They put extra pressure on your legs which helps to improve circulation and raise your blood pressure. For some people this can be enough, but speak to your GP first because they arent suitable for everyone.
Stand up slowly from sitting or lying down. You can try other simple movements to get the blood flowing before you stand up, such as straightening and bending your legs.
Avoid standing for long periods of time.
Drink enough water throughout the day, around 2 litres, so you dont get dehydrated.
Eat little and often throughout the day. This avoids low blood pressure after eating.

Low Blood Pressure A Hidden Problem

Low blood pressure is a concern. It causes poor blood flow, low oxygenation, and tissue damage. Many effects of low blood pressure arent discovered on time to prevent permanent organ damage.

Thats because the stress caused by seeing a health practitioner artificially increases blood pressure numbers, making hypotension practically undetectable.

Dont wait. If you find your numbers low all day long, follow instructions given in Revived!. If you find your numbers going erratically up and down, you want to get The Ultimate Guide to Low and Fluctuating Blood Pressure instead. Enjoy the read and get healthier soon!

Health troubles are seldom random

Do your beliefs support your health goals?

Check Your Blood Sugar

Diabetes and high blood sugar levels may lead to low blood pressure. Volume depletion can occur from the diuresis that follows high blood sugar levels. This is when your body tries to expel glucose via increased urination.

Consider using a home monitor to check your blood sugar levels throughout the day. See your doctor to find out the best diet, exercise, and medication plan to help balance blood sugar levels.

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!

HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.

How To Raise Low Blood Pressure

If youre dealing with hypotension, the first step is making an appointment with your doctor. After discussing your medical history, lifestyle, and other factors, your doctor may change your medication or suggest certain lifestyle changes to get to the root of the issue.

Its important not to stop taking any medications or change dosages without talking to a healthcare professional first. The same is true of dietary or other changes.

Don’t Miss: What To Do For Hypertension

What About Low Blood Pressure At Night

Its typical for your blood pressure to be lower at night than when youre awake. The drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure can be up to 20% lower than your reading in the daytime.

Low blood pressure isnt usually seen as problematic unless its accompanied by other symptoms, such as dizziness or fainting. If you often feel lightheaded when getting up after sitting still or lying down for a long period, take care to sit up and get out of bed slowly in the morning. The NHS website advises that you could also try raising the head of your bed by about 15cm with bricks or heavy books.