A recent study has found that people with high blood pressure can improve their heart health and lower their risk of serious heart problems by taking their medication at bedtime instead of in the morning.
Researchers from the University of Vigo and other institutions discovered that taking all blood pressure medication at night leads to better blood pressure control and significantly reduces the chances of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues.
This study is the largest to examine how the timing of blood pressure medication affects heart health. Researchers followed 19,084 patients with high blood pressure for an average of more than six years.
Participants were asked to take their medication either in the morning when they woke up or at night before bed. Their blood pressure was monitored at least once a year using a 48-hour ambulatory blood pressure test, which tracks blood pressure throughout the day and night.
The results were striking. Those who took their medication at bedtime had a 45% lower risk of major heart-related events, including heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, or procedures to open blocked arteries, compared to those who took their medication in the morning. Additionally, the study found that taking medication at night led to:
- A 66% lower risk of death from heart-related problems
- A 44% lower risk of heart attacks
- A 40% lower risk of coronary procedures
- A 42% lower risk of heart failure
- A 49% lower risk of stroke
Despite these findings, most doctors currently recommend taking blood pressure medication in the morning, mainly due to the belief that lowering morning blood pressure levels is important. However, the researchers argue that this is misleading.
The study is part of the Hygia Project, which previously found that a person’s blood pressure while sleeping is the strongest predictor of heart disease risk—more important than daytime or doctor’s office blood pressure readings.
There is no scientific evidence that taking medication in the morning improves heart health. In contrast, this study clearly shows that bedtime treatment leads to better outcomes. The researchers suggest that medical guidelines should be updated to include recommendations on the best time to take blood pressure medication.
The study was conducted by Ramón C. Hermida and his team and was published in the European Heart Journal.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
