Our blood pressure varies during the day. Good and deep sleep brings relaxation with it. As a result, our blood pressure drops (the so called “dipping”), when we go sleeping. In people with obstructive sleep apnea blood pressure remains high even during their sleep. In fact, it can even elevate slightly in nighttime, though the causes of this state are not known yet.

Some scientists connect blood pressure elevation at night to breathing problems, insufficient oxygen supply and low quality of sleep. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) is used to treat this problem. A special machine is meant to facilitate people with obstructive sleep apnea with breathing while they sleep. The matter is its effect is too modest.

According to the results of several studies, another condition related with nightly blood pressure increase is restless legs syndrome. Certain people are subject to periodic leg movement during sleep (PLMS syndrome). In most cases the legs move every 20–40 sec. Arousal reaction resulting in problems with sleep is named among possible causes of this state. More researches are to be conducted in order to find out interrelation of leg movements and elevation of blood pressure. It is not clear yet if it is associated with undesirable effects.

		x	$0