Nighttime is the time for the body to rest and recover, but it can become a time when blood pressure suddenly increases in the elderly. Not as noisy and unclear as the aches and pains during the day, changes in blood pressure at night carry many silent but very scary risks: stroke, myocardial infarction, and arrhythmia.
This is the reason why many people wake up the next morning in a state of unusual fatigue or even cannot wake up.
The problem of blood pressure at night is often overlooked because we cannot easily feel it, but once it happens, the consequences are more serious than imagined.
Causes of increased blood pressure at night
In biological principles, blood pressure at night often decreases slightly when the body enters deep sleep. However, when this mechanism is disrupted, blood pressure instead of decreasing suddenly increases.
There are many factors that silently lead to this condition, including:
- Sleep apnea is a common cause, causing the body to fall into a state of continuous oxygen deficiency, stimulating the nervous system to overwork, naturally increasing blood pressure to “fight” that condition.
- Using blood pressure medication at the wrong time: If the medication is taken in the morning without lasting effect, the effect of the medication gradually decreases at night, blood pressure can easily increase again without the patient knowing.
- Psychological instability, prolonged anxiety, or difficulty sleeping, insomnia also cause the body to constantly fall into a state of stress, leading to increased blood pressure during sleep.
- Chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, or metabolic disorders can also upset the biological clock and cause unstable blood pressure.
What signs help recognize high blood pressure?
It is not easy to recognize high blood pressure at night because the patient is often not awake to measure or feel it. However, there are some signs to note:
- Prolonged feeling of fatigue or mild headache when waking up, not feeling refreshed despite getting enough sleep.
- Lack of deep sleep, waking up in the middle of the night, or feeling suffocated while sleeping.
- Palpitations, abnormally fast heartbeat late at night.
- In some cases, there may be cold sweats at night or feeling restless and uncomfortable in the body even in a quiet sleeping environment.
If you experience these signs frequently, especially in the elderly with a history of high blood pressure, checking your blood pressure at night is extremely necessary.
Dangerous complications can occur when blood pressure increases
Nocturnal hypertension is not just a simple physiological phenomenon. According to many studies, this condition is closely related to serious cardiovascular diseases.
Some worrying consequences include:
1. Early morning stroke
The time when blood pressure usually peaks is between 4 and 6 am, right when the patient transitions from sleep to wakefulness. A sudden increase in blood pressure after a night of hidden increase can cause blood vessels in the brain to rupture.
2. Heart failure and arrhythmia
When blood pressure is always high at night, the heart has to work too hard continuously, leading to dilated heart muscle and arrhythmia.
3. Kidney damage
The kidneys work hard at night to filter blood and regulate fluid levels. If blood pressure increases continuously, small blood vessels in the kidneys are easily damaged, aggravating chronic kidney disease.
4. Memory loss
High blood pressure at night can reduce the amount of blood to the brain during sleep, causing the ability to recover nerves and remember to decrease over time.
Measures to help prevent high blood pressure at night
Although this condition is dangerous, it can be completely controlled if the elderly are proactive in prevention.
Below are important principles to help stabilize blood pressure throughout the night:
1. Set a regular sleep schedule
Sleeping on time and getting enough sleep will help the body’s biological clock function stably. Staying up too late or not sleeping deeply will cause the nervous system to be constantly stimulated, so blood pressure will also become uncontrolled.
2. Take medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor
Some blood pressure medications need to be adjusted in time to control both day and night. Absolutely do not change the time of taking or stop taking the medication on your own.
3. Avoid salty foods and stimulants in the evening
Elderly people should eat a light dinner, low in salt, and limit foods high in protein or fat. At the same time, avoid drinking coffee, strong tea or alcohol in the evening because they all affect blood pressure and sleep.
4. Check for sleep apnea
If you snore loudly, wake up frequently, or feel like you’re choking while you sleep, you may need to be screened for sleep apnea. Proper treatment will significantly improve your nighttime blood pressure.
5. Relax before bed
A warm cup of herbal tea, a few minutes of gentle meditation, or listening to soothing music can help your body transition into a state of true rest, which can help your blood pressure naturally decrease according to your circadian rhythm.
