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High Blood Pressure: Here's when you should take your medications
The risk of heart attacks and strokes have been increasing at a high rate and cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in the world as many of us are suffering from insidious health issue called high blood pressure aka hypertension.
The risk of heart attacks and strokes have been increasing at a high rate and cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in the world as many of us are suffering from insidious health issue called high blood pressure aka hypertension. For the unversed, high BP is when the pressure of blood against the arteries is higher than the normal. It slowly toughens the walls of blood vessels and damages other organs as well such as heart, brain and kidney among others. Nearly half of all adults suffer from the same and the worst part is people hardly get to know if they suffering from it or not as the symptoms are quite easily missable. Around 7 in 10 adults with high blood pressure use medications to treat the condition. However, did you know what is the best time of day one should take their blood pressure medications? As per a study, the Hygia Chronotherapy Trial, investigated whether the consumption time of the medications affects high BP or not.
As per the study which was led by Professor Ramón C. Hermida, Director of the Bioengineering and Chronobiology Labs at the University of Vigo, Spain, came to a conclusion that those who took their medications at bedtime nearly had half the risk (45% reduction) of dying from heart attacks, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure compared to those who took their medications in the morning. Yes, you read it right! Medications at bedtime led to a lowering of average blood pressure both at night and during the day, and their blood pressure went lower more at night compared to those who took medications in the morning.
After 6.3 years of follow-up, 752 patients out of 19,084 died from heart problems or suffered from myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, or coronary revascularization. As per the result of the study, they found that the risk of death from heart or blood vessel problems was reduced by 66%, heart failure by 42%, the risk of myocardial infarction was reduced by 44% and stroke by 49%.
ALSO READ: High Blood Pressure: What is Labile hypertension and how to prevent it?
Aside from medication, one can bring lifestyle changes to counter high BP. Lowering the intake of salt, increasing the consumption of potassium-rich foods, regular workout, reducing smoking and drinking among others. For the unversed, Smoking, obesity, lack of physical activity, too much salt in the diet, too much alcohol, stress, older age and genetics among others are the causes of high BP.
