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.

Hypertension is associated with numerous risk factors. Please, remember that certain factors are totally under your control.

Numerous or extreme stress factors usually result in a rapidly rising blood pressure. It should be noted that in this case hypertension has temporary nature. Relaxation methods that are advisable when dealing with hypertension due to stress do not include smoking, alcohol, or food. This way you only add to problems with elevated blood pressure.

Too salted dishes make you body keep fluid, adding to the elevation of blood pressure. Make sure that your diet contains minimum of sodium.

Blood pressure rises during smoking tobacco. Though the state is temporary, its chemicals have deleterious effect at artery walls. As a result, blood vessels may narrow complicating heart function and increasing blood pressure.

Unreasonable drinking threatens your heart. After two or three drinks in a row your blood pressure starts to elevate due to special hormones that add to heart rate though temporarily. Remember that too much alcohol is ruinous for cardiovascular system.