Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association’s 2023 Statistical Update.
Now, new research shows that the winter months may be a riskier time for those dealing with hypertension (high blood pressure).
The study, set to be presented at a medical conference in Boston, found that people with high blood pressure seem to have a harder time keeping it under control during the winter.
What the Researchers Did
Robert B. Barrett, a software engineer at the American Medical Association, led the study, which looked at health records for over 60,000 adults treated for high blood pressure.
The research team reviewed data from patients across different health care centers in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the U.S., from small clinics to big academic medical centers.
The patients were all on their original blood pressure medications throughout the five-year study.
The team looked at blood pressure readings from winter and summer to see if there were seasonal differences in how well people managed their blood pressure.
Key Findings of the Study
The study found that people’s top blood pressure numbers (known as systolic blood pressure) increased slightly in winter.
Even more surprising, they noticed up to a 5% drop in how well people could control their blood pressure during the winter months compared to summer.
This might not seem like a huge difference, but in terms of public health, these small changes can add up.
“The change in blood pressure control between winter and summer was larger than we expected,” said Barrett. He suggested that people with high blood pressure should be extra cautious during the winter.
Regular monitoring and lifestyle adjustments, like improving diet and exercise habits, might help counteract these seasonal changes.
Why This Matters and What Comes Next
High blood pressure is a major health concern and is linked to various serious conditions like heart disease and stroke.
This study hints that seasonal changes may require different management approaches. Future studies may even look at how heart disease and death rates vary with the seasons.
It’s worth noting that the study had limitations. For instance, the health records didn’t give a full picture of each patient’s health, and they were collected only from the institutions where patients were treated.
Also, the criteria for what counts as “high blood pressure” can vary depending on the guidelines used.
However, the takeaway is clear: if you’re dealing with high blood pressure, winter is a time to be extra vigilant. Regular check-ups and lifestyle changes could make all the difference.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about how diets could help lower high blood pressure, and 3 grams of omega-3s a day keep high blood pressure at bay.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how tea and coffee influence your risk of high blood pressure, and results showing this olive oil could reduce blood pressure in healthy people.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
