If you are measuring your blood pressure at home, you may be taking it several times a day.
Blood pressure has normal patterns that tend to be higher and lower at certain times of the day.
Understanding these patterns can help you identify if your BP is normal or falls outside of range.
Blood pressure is usually not highest in the morning.
In this article, I’ll explain more about blood pressure patterns.
I’ll talk about why your blood pressure might sometimes be higher in the morning, and whether it’s dangerous.
I’ll also discuss some risk factors for morning hypertension, as well as its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
I’ll also outline some prevention strategies, and tell you when to talk to your doctor.
Blood Pressure Patterns
Is blood pressure usually higher in the morning?
Your blood pressure and many other body systems have a daily rhythm.
Blood pressure drops to its lowest levels while you are asleep.
A few hours before it is time to wake up, it starts to rise.
However, morning is not the time of day when blood pressure should be highest.
Normal blood pressure rhythms peak in the middle of the day, dropping again in the late afternoon and evening.
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Get StartedWhen is the best time to measure blood pressure?
If you are concerned about or have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you should measure your blood pressure at several different times of day to identify patterns.
If your blood pressure tends to be higher in the morning, you should talk to your doctor, because this is abnormal.
Abnormal blood pressure patterns can indicate certain causes of hypertension or other cardiovascular risk factors.
Abnormal blood pressure patterns can be detected by taking blood pressure readings at different times of the day, including:
- First thing in the morning
- Before lunch
- Mid-afternoon
- Before dinner
- Before bed
Keep in mind that exercise, caffeine, and stress can lead to short-term increases in blood pressure.
When you take a reading, try to be as calm and still as possible, with your arms and legs uncrossed.
Avoid checking your blood pressure immediately after exercise or if you have just experienced a very stressful event.
Causes of High Blood Pressure in The Morning
Medical conditions
Certain medical conditions can lead to higher blood pressure in the morning. These include:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Kidney disease
- Nervous system disorders
- Thyroid disease
- Lupus
Medication
Some medications can lead to changes in your blood pressure.
If your high blood pressure medication is not dosed correctly or is not effective, it can lead to higher morning readings.
If you are on blood pressure medication that does not control your morning levels, your doctor may want to reassess your dosage or switch you to a different medication.
Lifestyle
Certain lifestyle factors can lead to higher blood pressure in the morning.
These include:
- Smoking
- Stress and anxiety
- Being overweight
- Night shift work
- Lack of physical activity
Is it Dangerous?
Elevated blood pressure in the morning is not an immediate sign of danger, unless your blood pressure levels exceed 180/120 mm Hg.
Levels higher than this are considered a hypertensive urgency and should be evaluated by a doctor.
High blood pressure together with a headache, weakness, chest pain, or shortness of breath can be a serious emergency that requires immediate medical care, so if that occurs, please go to the ER.
Higher BP in the morning can be a sign that you are at higher risk for blood clotting, heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular disease.
It may also lead to changes in the brain.
If you notice a consistent pattern of having higher blood pressures in the morning, your physician will want to set a plan to address it to protect your long-term health and decrease possible complications down the road.
Risk Factors
You may be at higher risk for morning hypertension if you take certain medications, have uncontrolled hypertension, or have an abnormal sleep pattern.
This can happen due to untreated sleep apnea, diabetes, or as a result of night shift work.
Other risk factors include:
- Older age
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Smoking
- Longer sleep times
- Awakening later
- Cold weather climates
- Day of the week (Monday mornings are associated with higher blood pressure readings)
Your blood pressure is regulated as part of your circadian rhythm, so if your sleep patterns are off balance, it can lead to changes in your normal blood pressure.
Stress and anxiety can also worsen this effect, especially if those are chronic issues for you.
Symptoms
Symptoms of high blood pressure in the morning include consistent readings that are higher than 120/80 within a few hours of waking up.
If your healthcare provider has asked you to monitor blood pressure at home, or you are doing it proactively, let your provider know if your morning readings tend to be high.
Diagnosis
Your doctor may diagnose you with high blood pressure if your readings are 130/80 or higher at any time of the day on at least two separate readings a month apart.
If your levels are higher than 120/80 but lower than 130/80, your health care provider may tell you that you have elevated blood pressure, or pre-hypertension, and you may need to monitor your levels more closely.
You may have temporary increases in blood pressure, including an occasional morning BP surge.
Your doctor will be looking for a consistent pattern of fluctuations that are outside of the normal range.
Treatment
High morning blood pressure is treated similarly to general hypertension.
If you are already on blood pressure medication, your doctor may adjust your dosage to help prevent a morning surge.
If you do not already take BP medication, your doctor may prescribe something to keep your levels more balanced.
Prevention
You cannot always prevent high blood pressure, but healthy lifestyle adjustments can help. ‘
Getting regular physical activity, adequate sleep, avoiding excessive intake of alcohol, and not smoking all support healthy blood pressure.
Eating a diet that is lower in sodium and staying properly hydrated may also help.
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Get StartedWhen to See a Doctor
You should see a doctor if your morning blood pressure readings are higher than 120/80 or you have other concerns about stress, lifestyle, or other factors that could be influencing your blood pressure.
Untreated high blood pressure may lead to harmful effects on your long-term health.
How K Health Can Help
Skip the long wait at the doctor’s office—you can chat with a K Health primary care provider in minutes to discuss your blood pressure concerns.
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What time of day is blood pressure highest?
Normally, blood pressure levels peak around the middle of the day and decrease again in the afternoon and evening.
Is blood pressure higher before or after breakfast?
In many cases, blood pressure drops after you eat. People who eat meals that are heavy, high in salt, or large could experience a temporary increase in blood pressure. For the best reading, take your blood pressure first thing in the morning, before consuming caffeine or food, and before doing too much physical activity.
K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.
Taking your blood pressure daily can be great way to monitor your health. If you’re planning to start monitoring at home, it’s important to be as accurate as possible.
One of the best ways to get an accurate blood pressure reading is to measure at the same time each day. The right time of day will depend on you and your schedule.
Learn how and when to check your blood pressure, along with other tips for best practices.
Since your blood pressure changes throughout the day, it’s a good idea to take it at least twice. Taking your blood pressure multiple times throughout the day ensures you’re getting an accurate reading.
Choosing times that work for you
The best times of day to take your blood pressure depend on you and your daily routine. It’s important to pick times that you can stick to every day.
Taking your blood pressure at the same time each day is key to understanding your blood pressure. It can help make sure that the readings you take aren’t affected by the events of your day.
You can select times when you know you’ll be home and are unlikely to be interrupted. For example, you could check your blood pressure before you leave for work, when you get home from work, and before bed.
Factors that can affect your readings
There are a few general rules to be aware of when it comes to timing your blood pressure reading.
For example, it’s not a good idea to take your blood pressure immediately after you wake up, as this may not give you the most accurate reading. Instead, aim to check it when you’ve been up for about half an hour.
It’s also best not to wait until after breakfast and your morning coffee since both food and caffeine can raise your blood pressure. Ideally, a morning blood pressure can be taken after you brush your teeth, shower, and get dressed but before you eat or leave for work.
Food and caffeine aren’t the only things that can cause your blood pressure to spike. There are several other everyday things that can make your blood pressure rise.
No matter what time of day you take your blood pressure, it’s best to avoid these things for at least half an hour before you take a reading:
- smoking or using tobacco
- exercising
- consuming alcohol
It’s also a good idea to take your blood pressure with a recently emptied bladder.
There are a few different ways to get a blood pressure reading. Each way has advantages and drawbacks.
For many people, a combination of different methods can provide the most accurate picture of their blood pressure.
At a medical office
Getting your blood pressure taken is a common part of medical appointments. It’s a great way to have your blood pressure taken by a professional. However, that doesn’t mean it’s always accurate.
Many people have higher blood pressure at medical offices than anywhere else. This is known as white coat hypertension, and it’s thought to be caused by the stress of being at the medical office.
Even if your blood pressure reading is accurate at a medical office, it’s probably not a convenient way to regularly monitor it. After all, most of us don’t visit a medical office every day.
It’s likely you’ll only have your blood pressure measured at a medical office a few times a year. That’s not often enough to get a complete understanding of your blood pressure.
At home with a monitor
Home monitoring can be a great way to keep track of your blood pressure on a daily basis.
With home monitoring, you can check your blood pressure throughout the day and at times that are convenient for you. It can help you see how your blood pressure changes throughout the day and help you get a sense of your average blood pressure range.
However, you’ll need to purchase a blood pressure monitor to do this. You’ll also need to learn how to use it and how to record accurate readings.
It’s not complicated to learn the basics of many home monitors, but it can still be easy to make a mistake.
At a public kiosk
Public blood pressure monitoring kiosks are available at convenient places, such as pharmacies and grocery stores. You can use these kiosks to check your blood pressure while you’re running errands.
They’re generally free to use and easy to access, but these monitors also have some drawbacks.
Since the monitors aren’t maintained by a medical office, it can be hard to tell how accurate they are. They might not be calibrated or serviced often enough to give accurate measurements.
Additionally, public monitors are likely to be cleaned less regularly than monitors at a medical office. So wipe it down or wash your hands after using one, and interpret the readings with caution.
Once you’ve learned how to use your at-home blood pressure monitor, there are a few steps to help make sure you get an accurate reading:
- Relax for at least 5 minutes beforehand.
- Make sure you’re in a warm and comfortable room.
- Sit with your feet flat on the floor.
- Rest the arm you’re using for measurement on a table or ledge with your elbow at heart level.
- Roll up your sleeves so you can place the cuff on your bare skin.
- Make sure the blood pressure cuff is placed correctly.
- Don’t talk while you’re taking the measurement.
It’s also a good idea to take your blood pressure again after about 3 minutes. Taking your blood pressure twice each time can help you check that your measurement was correct.
If there is a large difference between the two readings, take a third reading. Record every reading you take.
You can also use these tips before using a public monitor or at a medical office. However, in a medical office, the healthcare professional might need you to follow slightly different instructions.
For example, you might be asked to stand or lie down for a blood pressure measurement. This is generally done to measure for changes in your blood pressure when you change positions.
Your blood pressure measures the force of the blood being pushed through your body as your heart beats.
The first number is called your systolic pressure. It measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart pumps. The second number is called your diastolic pressure, which measures the pressure in your blood vessels in between heartbeats.
A blood pressure reading is considered healthy if it is 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or below. Any blood pressure above this is considered elevated or abnormal.
A single blood pressure reading in the higher range isn’t cause for concern, but if you’re regularly getting higher readings, a medical professional will make a plan to help you lower your numbers.
Elevated blood pressure categories include:
- 120/80 to 129/80 mm Hg: Readings in this range are considered elevated and fall into prehypertension stage. A medical professional might recommend lifestyle changes to help lower your blood pressure.
- 130/80 to 139/89 mm Hg: The readings are considered stage 1 hypertension. You may need to start taking blood pressure medication if your readings don’t improve after following lifestyle changes — especially if you’re at high risk for heart disease.
- 140/90 to 179/119 mm Hg: This is considered stage 2 hypertension, which indicates an even more serious condition. At this stage, your doctor will recommend one or more medications to help lower your blood pressure to a healthier range.
- 180/120 mm Hg or higher: A blood pressure reading in this range is an emergency and could lead to organ failure. If you get this reading, you should seek medical care right away.
Taking your blood pressure can be a helpful tool for monitoring your health. One of the most important steps you can take to ensure you’re getting an accurate picture of your average blood pressure is to measure it at the same time every day.
Make sure you’re relaxed before you take your blood pressure. It’s also best to avoid eating, drinking, or exercising before you take your measurement.
Record your blood pressure daily and report any changes to your doctor or a healthcare professional, especially if you’re getting higher readings.