Morning Hypertension: 5 Hidden Signs of High Blood Pressure

Introduction

High blood pressure, or hypertension, has long been referred to as the “silent killer” since it tends to sneak up on an individual without him being aware of it and developing severe impairment in the body. Perhaps the most sinister but seriously under-played variant of this condition is morning hypertension—a morning blood pressure increase. Morning hypertension signs like waking up dizziness or with headaches never be ignored since they could signal underlying cardiovascular ailments. Studies^[1] have also indicated that individuals with morning blood pressure are at a higher risk of experiencing cardiovascular events like stroke and heart attack.

In 2010, a study documented in the Journal of Hypertension revealed that patients with a higher reading during the morning hours were twice^[2] likely to experience a stroke compared to patients who possess stable readings per day. Morning hypertension symptoms diagnosis is crucial when managing the condition at an early stage. We will examine five minor symptoms which could be an indication of the condition and how to deal with them.

Why Morning Hypertension Should Be a Cause for Alarm?

Blood pressure also occurs naturally throughout the day in accord with the circadian rhythm of the body. But a sudden and unexpected morning increase in blood pressure is stressful to the heart and other vital organs. The 2020 study published in the American Journal of Hypertension indicates morning increases in blood pressure are associated with higher cardiovascular disease progression and mortality risk. Experts identify the causes of morning spikes as hormonal changes, heightened sympathetic nervous activity, and nighttime shifts of fluid. Morning measurement of blood pressure has been identified by the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) as a goldmine in patients with cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and stroke risk. Now, let us discuss five sneaky but significant indicators of morning hypertension.

5 Sneaky Signs of Morning Hypertension

1. Waking Up Weak and Sweaty

Waking up extremely weak and drenched in sweat can be caused by something other than stress or an not-so-snug night’s sleep. Morning hypertension is the culprit that causes the body to alternate blood pressure frequently, rendering it weak and excessively sweating. Abrupt rise in blood pressure in a paper published in 2018 Journal of Clinical Hypertension was found to have the ability for stimulation of sympathetic nervous system, increase heart and sweating rate. Nocturnal hypoxemia with subsequent morning weakness may be provoked to be caused by nocturnal hypertension. Recurrent morning weakness may be an indication that your heart is pumping harder than normal, and that can cause cardiac issues in the future. If this is your case on a daily basis, monitoring your morning blood pressure levels to rule out the possibility of having hypertension is most crucial.

2. Nocturnal Urination

Do you wake up repeatedly during the night to go to the bathroom? One of the less well-recognized Morning hypertension signs is waking up lots of times for urine, and this could point towards kidney distress from high pressure. This is because you consumed lots of fluid-based drinks before retiring to bed, or because you have an overactive bladder, but could be because you have high blood pressure. A study published in 2019 by the Hypertension Journal reported that individuals who woke up frequently during the night to go to the bathroom had elevated blood pressure compared to those who did not. How does blood pressure affect the kidneys? High blood pressure overworks the kidneys, causing them to generate more urine, which disrupts sleep.

According to the National Kidney Foundation research^[3], individuals with high blood pressure have a higher chance of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), which leads to the frequent urge to urinate. If nocturia occurs frequently, it is important to check your blood pressure and visit a doctor.

3. Morning Headaches and Dizziness

The most common morning hypertension symptom is waking up with a headache or dizziness. This is due to the fact that higher blood pressure affects the vessels of the brain.

In the Journal of Headache and Pain, a 2016 study established that morning high BP patients were more likely to have chronic headache compared to normal BP. Hypertension may cause elevated intracranial pressure, which results in morning tension headache or migraine. Morning dizziness may also be brought about by inadequate delivery of oxygen to the brain. As a result of inadequate blood flow. If you find yourself waking up dizzy or headache-prone on a daily basis, perhaps it is time to track daily blood pressure readings.

4. Breathlessness and Severe Fatigue

Morning hypertension signs like too much tiredness and breathlessness may be warning signals that your heart is working overtime, pumping more blood than it has to. Winded or totally exhausted upon waking one morning following a good night’s rest? This might be another unsuspected morning hypertension symptom. Patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure experience breathlessness as the heart struggles to pump blood, according to a 2017 European Heart Journal study.

High blood pressure also disrupts sleep, for example, sleep apnea (OSA) that reduces the oxygen level and causes tiredness. There is little energy because the body is not getting good circulation and just getting out of bed or even brushing your teeth takes longer than normal. If you wake up in the morning gasping for air or are severely tired, a visit to the doctor to have you checked out with your blood pressure. And oxygen saturation would be a great idea.

5. Difficulty Concentrating in the Morning

If you’re fuzzy in your brain or can’t concentrate on anything when you wake up, your head isn’t getting enough blood due to high blood pressure. A 2021 Journal of Neurology study confirmed robust evidence of a link between rising blood pressure and decreasing cognition, particularly in people aged over 40 years^[4]. Poor circulation in the brain may be the cause of forgetfulness, confusion, and morning “fogginess.” Severe high blood pressure has also been associated with risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s in the future. If concentration difficulties persist, try to monitor blood pressure readings and make lifestyle modifications.

What You Can Do to Control Morning Hypertension?

If you are finding it hard to concentrate shortly after waking. It could be one of Morning hypertension signs like decreased brain supply of blood. Control of morning blood pressure from home is simply being in command and making changes in lifestyle. Some of the things that you can do are listed below:

1. Monitor Your Blood Pressure

Utilize a valid home BP monitoring instrument to monitor morning readings. Keep a blood pressure record and follow it with your doctor to obtain improved control.

2. Changes in Life

Restrict the use of salt. An intake of less than 2,300 mg daily in sodium to keep blood pressure at normal levels.

• Be active daily: There is data to show that 30 minutes of daily routine moderate exercise will lower BP.
• Take adequate water: Dehydration will lead to variation of blood pressure.
• Relieve stress: Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or deep breathing.

3. Visit a Doctor

If you are suffering from any of the above symptoms, go see a doctor for professional advice. Your doctor will prescribe medication or lifestyle adjustment based on your condition.

Conclusion

Recurring feeding and monitoring watch over the blood pressure will bring about Morning hypertension signs earlier and adhere to prevention. Morning hypertension is a quiet killer disease that can actually raise your risks for cardiovascular diseases if left untreated. To be aware of the very subtle symptoms—morning fatigue, frequent urination, headaches, breathlessness, and dizziness. It can allow you to respond early by taking good care of yourself. By monitoring your blood pressure, adopting the correct lifestyle changes, and seeing a health care professional. You can reduce your chances of having more complicated conditions and live healthier. These symptoms should not be ignored—act in your heart’s interest today!