Best Time to Take Blood Pressure Medication: Do’s and Don’ts

Important Points and the Best Times to Take MedicationBlood Pressure

The common recommendation many people have heard is to take blood pressure medication in the morning. However, with increased awareness and broader studies, new results suggest thatBlood Pressure Medicationtaking it at night can be more effective. This is due to the concept of chronotherapy, which examines the timing of medication based on the body’s circadian rhythm.

The natural body cycle, which occurs every 24 hours, may change over time, and from this perspective, researchers have studied the best times of day to take medication for issues like sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, anddiabetes.This article explains what type of blood pressure medication is suitable for individuals; it also discusses how blood pressure naturally fluctuates and when is the best time to take medication for more effectiveness.

How Does Blood Pressure Medication Work?

As previously discussed in the health and wellness section of SelMagz, there are 11 types of blood pressure medications, each having different effects, but the overall goal of these medications is to make it easier for blood to flow to the heart.

Diuretics for blood pressure help remove excess fluids and sodium from the body.Beta-blockerscalm the heart rate.

1. ACE inhibitors decrease the levels of a hormone called angiotensin, which is responsible for narrowing blood vessels.
2. Angiotensin II receptor blockers prevent angiotensin from binding to its receptors and stop blood vessel constriction.Calcium channel blockers help widen blood vessels and calm the heart rate.Alpha-blockers relax the walls of blood vessels.
3. Alpha-2 receptor agonists reduce the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which controls heart rate and involuntary bodily functions.
4. Combination drugs of beta and alpha blockers are used to treat hypertension crises and are prescribed to those at high risk of heart failure.
5. Centrally acting agonists tighten blood vessels.
6. Peripheral adrenergic blockers block chemicals in the brain that play a vital role in blood vessel narrowing.
7. Vasodilators help relax blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily.
8. When is Blood Pressure Highest?
9. Blood pressure follows relatively predictable patterns, fluctuating when you wake up in the morning, rising during the day, and dropping again at night when you sleep. However, this does not always apply to individuals who
10. have high blood pressure.
11. In fact, there are four distinct patterns of blood pressure changes during sleep and night:

Natural blood pressure drop of 10 to 20 percent.

Significant blood pressure drop exceeding 20 percent.No drop in blood pressure of less than 10 percent.Reverse drop where night blood pressure is higher than during waking hours.

• Any irregular type of blood pressure we mentioned can create issues for individuals, impacting the heart’s blood vessels, kidneys,
• blood sugar levels,
• and more. The only way to help you monitor blood pressure changes is to measure it regularly at different times during the day and night. You can use various techniques, including a digital device for measurements.
• Benefits of Taking Blood Pressure Medication at Night

Studies have been conducted showing that taking medication at night or for night workers before sleeping is appropriate. The primary reason relates to chronotherapy, which was studied over six years involving more than 19,000 individuals with high blood pressure.Participants were divided into two groups: one took their blood pressure medication in the morning and another group took it at night.At least once a year, all participants measured and recorded their blood pressure. When comparing the morning group with the night group, it was found that those who took their medication at night had lower risks of high blood pressure and mortality. The actual benefits included:

Nearly a 49 percent reduction in stroke risk.

The risk of

heart attacks

was reduced by 44 percent.

• Heart failure risk decreased by 42 percent.
• A 2015 study suggested that taking these medications at night reduced the risk oftype 2 diabetesin people with high blood pressure.
• Other studies have indicated that if you take your medication at night, you may experience greater benefits, and generally, people are more likely to take their medicine at night as they often forget due to daytime busyness.

However, no study has stated that you should never take blood pressure medication in the morning. Many prefer to take this medication in the morning as it has a diuretic effect, which can lead to sleeplessness if taken at night.Blood PressureTips for Taking Blood Pressure Medication

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