Why does blood pressure rise at night?

Generally, high blood pressure at night may be caused by staying up late, antihypertensive drug failure, neuroregulatory factors, obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome, or essential hypertension. It is recommended to seek timely medical consultation to identify the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Staying Up Late

Normally, blood pressure typically decreases at night. However, when normal sleep patterns are disrupted, the body's hormone secretion and neuroregulatory rhythms can be altered, preventing blood pressure from decreasing normally at night and instead showing an increasing trend. Generally, no specific treatment is required; avoiding staying up late and ensuring good sleep habits is recommended.

2. Neuroregulatory Factors

When patients experience emotional states such as tension, anxiety, or fear at night, the sympathetic nervous system becomes activated, leading to a heightened state of excitement, which can elevate blood pressure. Usually, no treatment is necessary; maintaining a cheerful mood and engaging in aerobic exercises such as jogging or swimming can help relieve stress.

3. Antihypertensive Drug Failure

Some patients with hypertension may be taking short-acting antihypertensive medications, which may lose their effectiveness at night, resulting in elevated nighttime blood pressure. Under a doctor's guidance, medications such as indapamide tablets, lacidipine tablets, or benazepril hydrochloride tablets may be used for treatment.

4. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

This condition may be caused by genetic factors and obesity. It may lead to episodes of breathing cessation, causing hypoxia, which in turn may elevate blood pressure. Under a doctor's guidance, medications such as naphazoline hydrochloride and bromhexine spray, ephedrine hydrochloride tablets, or acetazolamide tablets may be used for treatment.

5. Essential Hypertension

Essential hypertension is often caused by genetic, environmental, and age-related factors. For patients with essential hypertension, blood pressure fluctuations are more complex. Some patients may experience abnormal circadian blood pressure rhythms due to genetic factors and impaired vascular endothelial function, leading to higher nighttime blood pressure than daytime levels. Under medical guidance, medications such as nifedipine sustained-release tablets, amlodipine besylate tablets, or irbesartan hydrochlorothiazide tablets may be used for treatment.

In daily life, patients with high blood pressure should maintain regular sleep patterns and avoid staying up late. Dietary habits should be light and healthy, and a cheerful mood should be maintained to avoid excessive stress, which may hinder the control of the condition.