Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPatternsInfluencing FactorsHealth ImplicationsCausesRisk FactorsSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Patterns
Influencing Factors
Health Implications
Causes
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Blood pressureis the amount of force your blood exerts on your blood vessels with each heartbeat. It fluctuates throughout the day due to activities, stress, diet, and other internal and external forces. The time of day can also impact your blood pressure.
This article explores the reasons you might wake up with high blood pressure (hypertension) and its implications for your overall health.
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Typical Blood Pressure Patterns
Blood pressure patterns vary among people and often fluctuate throughout the day. Physical activity, the timing of medication, and general health can contribute to these fluctuations.
It’s typical for your blood pressure to be at its lowest while you sleep and increase when you wake. People with this common blood pressure pattern are called “dippers” and are typically young and healthy.
The following two categories of blood pressure patterns are less common:
What Factors Influence Blood Pressure in the Morning?
Your body’s internal clock—known as the circadian rhythm—is a major driver of blood pressure fluctuations over a 24-hour period. Circadian patterns are linked to the nocturnal dip and morning surge in blood pressure that most people experience. Different areas of the brain, glands, and even hormones can impact your circadian rhythm and trigger blood pressure changes.
Some other health and lifestyle factors that can influence your day-to-night blood pressure patterns include:
Studies have also shown that the timing of exercise, and how early you wake up and get moving can have an impact on your blood pressure—but these patterns are not the same for everyone.
A study from 2022 on exercise patterns and the impact of various health measurements found that blood pressure readings were lower in women who exercised in the morning rather than at night, but the opposite was true for men. Men who exercised in the evening had lower blood pressure readings than men who exercised in the morning, according to the report.
The Health Implications of High Morning Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can be harmful to your health no matter what time of day it occurs. There is evidence, however, that people who have abnormally high blood pressure in the morning may be at a higher risk of developing severe cardiovascular problems like aheart attackorstroke.
There are also studies, though, that suggest significant nighttime dips in blood pressure may be a stronger signal of cardiovascular problems than a morning blood pressure surge.
What Causes Abnormally High Blood Pressure in the Morning?
Although a morning surge in your blood pressure reading is normal to some extent, blood pressure readings that exceed normal ranges are still a problem. Below are some additional factors beyond your body’s natural patterns that can cause a spike in your morning blood pressure measurement.
Medication
Every medication has intended andunintended effects. Medications that are designed to address one problem can often lead to other problems, and blood pressure fluctuations are no exception.
Some medications and substances that can cause your blood pressure to spike are:
If you notice patterns of high blood pressure after using any of these medications or substances, talk to your healthcare team about your medication schedule and possible side effects of your current regimen.
It is also important to consider the timing of your blood pressure medications. You may take medications to treat high blood pressure a few times a day, in the morning, or at night. If you notice higher blood pressure readings in the morning, ask your healthcare provider about the best time to take your blood pressure medications.
Lifestyle Factors
Your daily routines and habits can also play a role in high morning blood pressure. Late social events, evening use of alcohol or recreational drugs, sleep disturbances, and late-night physical activity can all impact your morning blood pressure.
If you are experiencing morning hypertension, pay attention to your lifestyle choices and patterns. Changing your schedule to get enough sleep, and steering clear of alcohol and drug use may help reduce your chances of having high blood pressure in the morning.
Medical Conditions
Besides chronic high blood pressure, there are other conditions or health factors that can increase your morning blood pressure. Conditions that require you to take medications that can cause a blood pressure spike are one thing to consider. But even without medications, certain conditions like sleep apnea can increase your risk of developing abnormally high morning blood pressure.
When and How to Take Your Blood Pressure
Who’s At Risk of Developing Morning Hypertension?
Higher morning blood pressure readings are actually pretty normal in young, healthy individuals. However, excessively high morning blood pressure have been linked to significant health problems—especially among older adults.
If your morning blood pressure readings are increasing as you age or are occurring along with other chronic health problems, talk to your healthcare team about gaining control over your cardiovascular health to prevent emergencies like heart attack or stroke.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is sometimes referred to as the “silent killer” because it can develop with no noticeable symptoms.
People who do experience symptoms of high blood pressure may notice things like:
In many cases, these symptoms only appear with dangerously high blood pressures. If you are experiencing these symptoms you may be in ahypertensive crisis. When this happens, your blood pressure reading can reach 180/120 or higher. Immediate medical care is needed to treat blood pressures this high to prevent possibly fatal events like heart attack or stroke.
How High Blood Pressure in the Morning Is Diagnosed
Not everyone checks their blood pressure at home and they may not be aware they have hypertension. Most people arediagnosedwith hypertension through regular physical exams with their primary healthcare provider. You may be diagnosed with high blood pressure if you have elevated blood pressure readings on more than one or two visits.
How Is Hypertension Treated?
High blood pressure is treated with a combination of diet and lifestyle changes, as well as medications. Diet and lifestyle changes are often the first choice for treatment, especially if your blood pressure is elevated but not yet in adangerously high zone.
If your blood pressure is already high or if you are experiencing other health problems as a result of your high blood pressure, it’s important to get quick and effective treatment.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe one or moremedicationsto help lower your blood pressure, but these medications should be taken along with eating a healthy diet and making lifestyle changes.
12 Tricks to Lower Your Blood Pressure Instantly at Home
Can You Prevent Morning Hypertension?
Blood pressure readings tend to be highest in the morning, so if you are monitoring your blood pressure for a particular reason, it can be helpful to take measurements in the morning and in the evening for comparison.
There’s not much you can do to control your body’s clock and the impact it has on your blood pressure, but overallheart healthymeasures like eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise can help you keep your blood pressure in a safe range.
Summary
Your blood pressure naturally changes throughout the day, and is often at its highest in the morning. A raised blood pressure that remains within a normal range is expected, but blood pressure readings that exceed normal or are elevated can signal more serious health issues.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you notice blood pressure that spikes high above the normal range—whether it happens in the morning or any other time of day.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Oxford.Night-time blood pressure assessment is found to be important in diagnosing hypertension. September 2022.Zhang J, Sun R, Jiang T, Yang G, Chen L.Circadian blood pressure rhythm in cardiovascular and renal health and disease.Biomolecules. 2021;11(6):868. doi:10.3390/biom11060868Arciero PJ, Ives SJ, Mohr AE, et al.Morning exercise reduces abdominal fat and blood pressure in women; evening exercise increases muscular performance in women and lowers blood pressure in men.Front Physiol. 2022;13:893783. doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.893783Cardoso C, Salles G.Associations of the nocturnal blood pressure fall and morning surge with cardiovascular events and mortality in individuals with resistant hypertension.Journal of Hypertension.June 2021;39(6):1177-1187. doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000002775Xie Z, Zhang J, Wang C, Yan X.Chronotherapy for morning blood pressure surge in hypertensive patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Cardiovasc Disord. June 2021;21(274). doi:10.1186/s12872-021-02081-8.American Heart Association.Over-the-counter medications and high blood pressure.May 2024.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About high blood pressure.American Heart Association.When to call 911 about high blood pressure.May 2024.American Heart Association.Measuring blood pressure at home can be tricky. Here’s how to do it right.May 2023.American Heart Association.How to manage high blood pressure.May 2024.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Oxford.Night-time blood pressure assessment is found to be important in diagnosing hypertension. September 2022.Zhang J, Sun R, Jiang T, Yang G, Chen L.Circadian blood pressure rhythm in cardiovascular and renal health and disease.Biomolecules. 2021;11(6):868. doi:10.3390/biom11060868Arciero PJ, Ives SJ, Mohr AE, et al.Morning exercise reduces abdominal fat and blood pressure in women; evening exercise increases muscular performance in women and lowers blood pressure in men.Front Physiol. 2022;13:893783. doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.893783Cardoso C, Salles G.Associations of the nocturnal blood pressure fall and morning surge with cardiovascular events and mortality in individuals with resistant hypertension.Journal of Hypertension.June 2021;39(6):1177-1187. doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000002775Xie Z, Zhang J, Wang C, Yan X.Chronotherapy for morning blood pressure surge in hypertensive patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Cardiovasc Disord. June 2021;21(274). doi:10.1186/s12872-021-02081-8.American Heart Association.Over-the-counter medications and high blood pressure.May 2024.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About high blood pressure.American Heart Association.When to call 911 about high blood pressure.May 2024.American Heart Association.Measuring blood pressure at home can be tricky. Here’s how to do it right.May 2023.American Heart Association.How to manage high blood pressure.May 2024.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
University of Oxford.Night-time blood pressure assessment is found to be important in diagnosing hypertension. September 2022.Zhang J, Sun R, Jiang T, Yang G, Chen L.Circadian blood pressure rhythm in cardiovascular and renal health and disease.Biomolecules. 2021;11(6):868. doi:10.3390/biom11060868Arciero PJ, Ives SJ, Mohr AE, et al.Morning exercise reduces abdominal fat and blood pressure in women; evening exercise increases muscular performance in women and lowers blood pressure in men.Front Physiol. 2022;13:893783. doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.893783Cardoso C, Salles G.Associations of the nocturnal blood pressure fall and morning surge with cardiovascular events and mortality in individuals with resistant hypertension.Journal of Hypertension.June 2021;39(6):1177-1187. doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000002775Xie Z, Zhang J, Wang C, Yan X.Chronotherapy for morning blood pressure surge in hypertensive patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Cardiovasc Disord. June 2021;21(274). doi:10.1186/s12872-021-02081-8.American Heart Association.Over-the-counter medications and high blood pressure.May 2024.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About high blood pressure.American Heart Association.When to call 911 about high blood pressure.May 2024.American Heart Association.Measuring blood pressure at home can be tricky. Here’s how to do it right.May 2023.American Heart Association.How to manage high blood pressure.May 2024.
University of Oxford.Night-time blood pressure assessment is found to be important in diagnosing hypertension. September 2022.
Zhang J, Sun R, Jiang T, Yang G, Chen L.Circadian blood pressure rhythm in cardiovascular and renal health and disease.Biomolecules. 2021;11(6):868. doi:10.3390/biom11060868
Arciero PJ, Ives SJ, Mohr AE, et al.Morning exercise reduces abdominal fat and blood pressure in women; evening exercise increases muscular performance in women and lowers blood pressure in men.Front Physiol. 2022;13:893783. doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.893783
Cardoso C, Salles G.Associations of the nocturnal blood pressure fall and morning surge with cardiovascular events and mortality in individuals with resistant hypertension.Journal of Hypertension.June 2021;39(6):1177-1187. doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000002775
Xie Z, Zhang J, Wang C, Yan X.Chronotherapy for morning blood pressure surge in hypertensive patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Cardiovasc Disord. June 2021;21(274). doi:10.1186/s12872-021-02081-8.
American Heart Association.Over-the-counter medications and high blood pressure.May 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About high blood pressure.
American Heart Association.When to call 911 about high blood pressure.May 2024.
American Heart Association.Measuring blood pressure at home can be tricky. Here’s how to do it right.May 2023.
American Heart Association.How to manage high blood pressure.May 2024.
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