12.3 What is Morning Hypertension?
Morning high blood pressure or morning surge is defined as the weekly average for
morning blood pressure reading measured within 1 hour to 2 hours after awakening in
the morning and exceeding 135/85mmHg. Studies have shown that exaggerated
morning blood pressure surge is a risk for cardiovascular events which includes
ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Cardiovascular events have been shown to be
exaggerated in the morning to coincide with morning high blood pressure. In fact heart
attack, stroke and heart failure have been shown to fall particularly on a Monday
amongst all the other days of the week.
Organ damage and diabetic complications have also been shown to be linked with
morning blood pressure surges just in the same way as small artery disease and
multiple celebral infarcts in elder members of society. Morning high blood pressure has
shown some correlation with initial stage and progression of atherosclerosis. Patients
with well controlled blood pressure may still have high morning blood pressure and
this happens in 50% of the cases. Patients with morning hypertension have a 78%
more chance of stroke compared with 48% of other hypertensive patients without
morning high blood pressure. Morning hypertension has also been associated with
changes in heart size and rhythm. This may lead to heart attack or heart failure.
Morning Hypertension can only be detected within 1 hour to 2 hours after
awakening, recommended user monitor their own blood pressure at home.
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12.1 What is Blood Pressure?
12.2 What is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of
blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs.
Two pressures are measured for a blood pressure reading:
●
Systolic blood pressure is a measure of blood pressure while the heart is beating.
●
Diastolic pressure is a measure of blood pressure while the heart is relaxed.
The blood pressure (BP) category is defined by the highest level of BP, whether
systolic or diastolic. Isolated systolic hypertension should be graded 1, 2, or 3
according to systolic BP values in the ranges indicated.
High blood pressure, also known as HBP or hypertension, is a widely misunderstood
medical condition. Some people think that those with hypertension are tense, nervous
or hyperactive, but hypertension has nothing to do with personality traits. The truth is,
you can be a calm, relaxed person and still have HBP. Let's look at the facts about
blood pressure so you can better understand how your body works and why it is smart
to start protecting yourself now, no matter what your blood pressure numbers are.
By keeping your blood pressure in the healthy range, you are:
●
Reducing your risk of your vascular walls becoming overstretched and injured
●
Reducing your risk of your heart having to pump harder to compensate for
blockages
●
Protecting your entire body so that your tissue receives regular supplies of blood
that is rich in the oxygen it needs
The definitions and classification of blood pressure values for adults in accordance
with WHO are listed in below table. Data in mmHg.
12
．
About Blood Pressure
16
Category
Optimal
Normal
High normal
Grade 1 hypertension
Grade 2 hypertension
Grade 3 hypertension
Isolated systolic hypertension
Systolic
120
120-129
130-139
140-159
160-179
≥180
≥140
and
and/or
and/or
and/or
and/or
and/or
and
Diastolic
80
80-84
85-89
90-99
100-109
≥110
90
