Study: Taking hypertension meds at bedtime cuts health risks significantly

A new study suggests taking hypertension medicines at bedtime results in better blood pressure control and a decreased risk of cardiovascular and neurovascular events (heart attack and stroke).

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, followed almost 19,000 patients over six years. They found that taking once a day blood pressure medications at bedtime was beneficial when compared to those that took their medicine in the morning. The etiology behind the improved efficacy of anti-hypertensives is not understood. Here are my thoughts.

This is a study in the emerging field of chronobiology. Chronobiology examines periodic (cyclic) phenomena in living organisms associated with light-dark cycles.

The microbiome has a biologic rhythm. Microbiome chonobiology plays a role in normal physiology as well as the response to disease. It is not a stretch to think the undulating metabolic and catabolic activity of gut flora would affect medication efficacy and toxicity.

Prescriptions of the future may include both the drug type and the optimum adminstration time.

I look forward to learning more.