Research shows millions of Britons could have high blood pressure without knowing it because their levels only spike at night.
An Oxford University study found that one in eight people between the ages of 40 and 75 have high blood pressure in the evening and may be late for a GP appointment during the day.
High blood pressure increases a person’s risk of heart attack, stroke, and even death – especially if the condition is left untreated.
Healthy people often find their blood pressure drops at night when the body is resting and preparing for bed.
But the researchers found the opposite was true in 15 percent of people.
Watchdog NHS NICE now recommends GPs diagnose patients based solely on daytime blood pressure levels.
But the team at Oxford ay ambulatory monitoring – when the cuff is worn for a 24-hour period – should be used more often.
Millions of Britons may have high blood pressure without knowing it because their levels only spike at night (file image)
Lead author of the study, Professor Lionel Tarassenko said: ‘Measurement of blood pressure during the day is not enough.
‘Blood pressure follows a cycle for 24 hours. Usually, it decreases at night during sleep and then increases after waking up.
‘For the ‘reverse diggers’ – mainly elderly people, sometimes with diabetes or kidney disease – this pattern is reversed. Blood pressure rises at night, and then falls upon awakening.
‘This means the ‘reverse diggers’ have the lowest blood pressure of the day and so they will have more peace of mind during daytime monitoring at home or at a GP clinic. “
The study involved around 21,000 patients from 28 GPs and four hospitals in the Oxford area.
In hospitalized patients, the researchers found that almost half (49%) of these patients were ‘reverse cutters’.
Approximately 15% of community participants had high blood pressure at night.
In both hospital and community patient groups, one in three people who dug back had at least one cardiovascular disease.
Dr Laura Armitage, a researcher at the University of Oxford’s Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, added: ‘Our study shows that measuring blood pressure at night can help identify one in Eight adults in the UK have undiagnosed hypertension.
‘Importantly, this will also lead to a reduction in cardiovascular disease and mortality.
‘This highlights the need for GPs to provide 24-hour blood pressure assessments to their patients.’
The study was published in the British Journal of General Practice.
Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk
