Khaberni - A study conducted by researchers at the Oregon Institute for Occupational and Health Science in the USA revealed that patients with high blood pressure maintaining a simple daily habit can significantly help lower their blood pressure levels.
The journal SLEEP Advances, which published the study, reports that sticking to a fixed bedtime daily can significantly reduce blood pressure in those with high blood pressure. The researchers found that maintaining the same bedtime for just two weeks led to a noticeable decrease in blood pressure, including nighttime readings which are one of the most crucial indicators for assessing cardiovascular risks.
The study included 11 adults with high blood pressure. After monitoring their sleep habits for a week, they were asked to choose a specific bedtime and stick to it daily without changing the duration of sleep or imposing any additional restrictions. After just 14 days, their bedtime variability decreased from 30 minutes to 7 minutes, and their 24-hour blood pressure dropped by an average of 4 mm Hg, a level comparable to the effects of moderate exercise or reducing salt intake.
According to the researchers, even this modest decrease is significant; a drop in nighttime blood pressure by 5 mm Hg could reduce the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke by more than 10%. Regular sleep is likely to promote the body's natural biological rhythms and contribute to the restoration of the natural "nocturnal dip" in blood pressure, which is often irregular in patients with high blood pressure.
Although the number of participants was small, the results suggest that improving control over high blood pressure is not only linked to medication and diet but can also depend on a simple habit: daily regular sleep schedule.
