A recent study has found that people with high blood pressure can lower their risk of heart disease and death just by changing when they take their medication. Instead of taking their pills in the morning, they should take them at bedtime.
This discovery comes from a long-term study led by the University of Vigo in Spain. The research involved more than 19,000 people with high blood pressure. Half of them took their medication in the morning, while the other half took it at night.
Scientists followed these patients for an average of six years, checking their blood pressure at least once a year with a special 48-hour monitoring system. This allowed researchers to see how medication timing affected heart health over time.
The results were clear. People who took their medication at night had much better outcomes. Their blood pressure was better controlled, and their risk of serious heart problems dropped significantly.
They were 45% less likely to have or die from a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or a procedure to clear blocked arteries compared to those who took their medication in the morning.
Breaking it down further, the benefits were even more impressive:
- A 66% lower risk of dying from heart disease
- A 44% lower risk of having a heart attack
- A 40% lower risk of needing a procedure to unblock arteries
- A 42% lower risk of heart failure
- A 49% lower risk of having a stroke
These findings challenge the usual advice for treating high blood pressure. Most doctors tell patients to take their pills in the morning, assuming this helps control blood pressure during the day when people are more active. But this study suggests that what happens during sleep is even more important.
The researchers, who were part of the Hygia Project, discovered that blood pressure levels during sleep are a stronger predictor of heart disease than daytime readings. This means that lowering blood pressure at night could be key to preventing heart problems.
Currently, most medical guidelines don’t say whether it’s better to take blood pressure medication in the morning or at night. In fact, there has never been strong evidence proving that morning doses work better. This study, published in the European Heart Journal, is one of the largest and longest studies to ever test this question.
The takeaway is simple: if you have high blood pressure, switching your medication to bedtime could protect your heart and even save your life. It’s an easy change with major benefits.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about breakfast for better blood pressure management, and the gut feeling that lowers blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how the dash diet helps lower blood pressure, and how to eat your way to healthy blood pressure.
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