THURSDAY, Sept. 26, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- If your blood pressure doesn't go for a dip while you sleep, you may have a hidden blot clotting problem, says a new report.
The finding was presented today at the American Heart Association's 56th Annual High Blood Pressure Research Conference.
Your blood pressure normally reaches its lowest level while you sleep. However, some people with high blood pressure have little or no blood pressure decline when they sleep, which can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
This new study of 741 people with hypertension found that those who don't experience a blood pressure dip while they sleep have higher levels of the clotting factor fibrinogen. That could account for at least part of their increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Blood pressure monitoring showed that almost half the people in the study were non-dippers. The study also found that, over the course of a year, non-dippers had a 21 mg/dL higher mean fibrinogen value than dippers.
"To my knowledge, the rise in fibrinogen in non-dippers has not been reported before. The results emphasize the importance of adequate blood pressure control throughout the day. Our findings also show that identification of non-dippers is very relevant to prevention of coronary events and death," says study author Ramon C. Hermida, a professor at the University of Vigo, Spain.
He says data from the U.S. National Myocardial Infarction Registry (a heart attack patient database) shows that a 75 mg/dL increase in fibrinogen means an 85 percent increased risk for coronary events and death.
"Even within the range of normal levels, a 75 mg/dL increase in fibrinogen is very relevant to the risk of coronary events and death. This is not just a small change, but a major increase in risk," Hermida says.
His study also confirmed previous findings that fibrinogen levels peak during winter months. That increase matches annual patterns of coronary events and death, which peak during the winter.
More information
The American Heart Association has more on high blood pressure.
