In a nutshell
This study investigated If there is a difference in average blood pressure levels between seasons. They found that blood pressure was generally lower between February to July and higher between August and December.
Some background
Managing blood pressure is important to prevent cardiovascular (heart and circulatory system) disease. In recent years at-home blood pressure monitoring has become popular. This involves using an electronic device that measures blood pressure constantly.
There is a lot of interest in finding out what influences blood pressure levels. It has been reported that blood pressure can vary depending on the season. This is based on data obtained during clinical visits to check blood pressure.
Methods & findings
This study investigated if there are seasonal changes in blood pressure levels in a Japanese patient population.
This study included data from over 64,000 patients. These patients were using an electronic device to measure blood pressure. These devices also had internet access and automatically sent blood pressure readings to an online database. Weekly and monthly average blood pressure readings were analyzed.
Highest blood pressure readings were recorded in December; lowest readings were recorded in July. Blood pressure levels were approximately 1.5 mmHg lower in February-July than August to December. There was a decrease of 0.27 mmHg blood pressure for each 1°C drop in temperature.
The bottom line
This study concluded that blood pressure was generally lower between February to July and higher between August and December.
The fine print
This study was performed in a Japanese population and the results may not translate to other ethnicities or geographical locations.
What’s next?
If you have any concerns regarding blood pressure management please consult with your physician.
Published By :
BMJ open
Date :
Jan 05, 2018
