A new study has found that people with high blood pressure can lower their risk of heart disease and death just by changing the time they take their medication.
Instead of taking their pills in the morning, they should take them at bedtime. This simple change could protect the heart and even save lives.
The study was led by researchers from the University of Vigo in Spain. It followed more than 19,000 people with high blood pressure. Half of the participants took their medication in the morning, and the other half took it at night.
Scientists tracked them for about six years. Each person had their blood pressure checked at least once a year using a special system that recorded their levels over 48 hours. This allowed the scientists to see how the timing of medication affected heart health over time.
The results were surprising and clear. People who took their blood pressure pills at night had better health outcomes. Their blood pressure was more stable and under better control. More importantly, they had a much lower risk of serious heart problems and death.
The study found that taking medication at bedtime led to a 45% lower chance of having or dying from a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or needing surgery to open blocked arteries. When looking more closely, the researchers found even more benefits.
People who took their pills at night had a 66% lower risk of dying from heart disease, a 44% lower risk of having a heart attack, a 49% lower risk of having a stroke, a 42% lower risk of heart failure, and a 40% lower risk of needing a procedure to unblock their arteries.
These findings go against the usual advice most people get. Many doctors tell their patients to take blood pressure medication in the morning. The idea is to control blood pressure during the day when people are awake and active. But this study suggests that what happens during sleep might be even more important.
The researchers are part of the Hygia Project. They found that blood pressure levels during sleep are a stronger predictor of heart disease than daytime levels. This means that lowering blood pressure at night might be one of the best ways to protect the heart.
Right now, most health guidelines do not say if it’s better to take blood pressure pills in the morning or at night. There has never been strong proof that morning doses work better. This study, which was published in the European Heart Journal, is one of the largest and longest studies to look at this question.
The message is simple: If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor about taking your pills at bedtime. This small change could lead to big health benefits and might even save your life.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that may increase high blood pressure risk, and drinking green tea could help lower blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about what to eat or to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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