Insomnia and blood pressure
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Oct 22 2009
Q: For several years now I have been unable to get a good night’s sleep without a sleep aid such as Ambien - during that same period my blood pressure has been a little high - is there a correlation?
A: Not sleeping well has been associated with the development of high blood pressure. In addition, high blood pressure has been reported as an infrequent side of effect of Ambien. Chronic use of sleeping pills is not without risk. You should talk to your doctor about other methods to treat insomnia. To learn about behavioral therapy for trouble sleeping, click here.
Tags: ambien, behavioral therapy, high blood pressure, insomnia, Sleep & Sleep Apnea, sleep aid, sleeping pills, trouble sleepingMenopause and hypertension
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Aug 17 2009
Q: I have experienced occasional sleep disorders (due I believe to menopause). When I am sleep deprived, my blood pressure registers 150/100. This is high, but when I am not sleep deprived, it’s fine. What measures can I take to address this temporary increase in my blood pressure? I am interested specifically in lifestyle modifications as opposed to medication.
A: Around menopause is typically when women develop high blood pressure. You should be evaluated by your doctor. Because many women gain weight during the change, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly is especially important. You might want to try using the RESPeRATE. It is clinically proven to lower blood pressure and many users report that regular use improves sleep.
Tags: eating a healthy diet, high blood pressure, hypertension, insomnia, lifestyle modifications, lower blood pressure, menopause, Pregnancy & Menopause, RESPeRATE, Sleep & Sleep Apnea, Sleep disordersInsomnia meds and blood pressure
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Apr 21 2009
Q: Can you recommend a sleeping product that won’t interact with my blood presure medicine and cause my BP to go up? My doctor said to take Benadryl but it made my BP go up 6 points and didn’t do my prostate any good.
A: Good sleep hygiene is the best way to get a good night’s rest without medication. For tips, click here. Prescription sleeping pills are available that don’t cause an elevation of blood pressure. Discuss this further with your doctor.
Tags: Benadryl, blood pressure, blood presure, good sleep, insomnia, Medication Interactions, prescription sleeping pills, sleep hygiene
