A new study suggests that middle-aged adults whose blood pressure changes a lot over time may have a higher risk of sudden cardiac death than those whose blood pressure stays steady.
The research showed that people with the biggest swings in blood pressure had up to a 70% higher chance of dying suddenly from heart-related causes.
The findings were shared at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Chicago. While the results are still early and need to be confirmed by more studies, they highlight something important: keeping your blood pressure steady might be just as important as keeping it in a healthy range.
Blood pressure naturally goes up and down during the day, but large or frequent changes over time—known as blood pressure variability—might signal hidden health problems. Ritam Patel, a medical student at Northwestern University and lead researcher on the study, said, “It’s not just about hitting the right number. It’s also about keeping that number steady.”
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is already known to raise the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure. Now researchers are looking at how changes in blood pressure over time might also be linked to serious health issues.
Earlier research has connected blood pressure swings to other health problems like heart disease, kidney trouble, mental decline, and mood issues. This latest study goes further by exploring a link between blood pressure variability and sudden cardiac death.
The study followed 23,499 adults, with an average starting age of 53. Each person had their blood pressure checked at least three times over about 15 years. The researchers then tracked them for up to 30 years to see who experienced sudden cardiac death.
On average, systolic blood pressure—the top number—varied by 11 to 12 mmHg. Diastolic pressure—the bottom number—varied by 6 to 7 mmHg.
After considering other health factors, researchers found that every 1 mmHg increase in systolic pressure swings raised the risk of sudden cardiac death by 3%. People with the most unstable blood pressure had a 40% to 70% higher risk compared to those with more stable numbers.
Why does this matter? Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, a heart specialist involved in the study, said that these ups and downs in blood pressure could place extra stress on the body. “The body is always trying to stay balanced. Big changes—whether in blood pressure or body weight—can wear it down,” he explained.
Although this study didn’t explain exactly why the risk increases, other experts believe possible reasons include not taking medication regularly, unhealthy habits, or weight changes. These factors could make it harder for the heart to handle extra stress.
Dr. Wanpen Vongpatanasin from UT Southwestern Medical Center said we still need to learn more about what causes these blood pressure swings. Understanding these patterns could help doctors better prevent heart-related deaths in the future.
For now, experts say it’s important not just to monitor your blood pressure numbers, but also to keep an eye on how steady they are. If your readings change a lot, it’s worth talking to your doctor about it.
This research may help doctors find new ways to spot people at risk before serious problems happen—and may one day save lives.
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