Hypertension monitoring: Morning readings reveal hidden risks

Medical experts are highlighting the importance of morning blood pressure measurements to detect hypertension that may go unnoticed during standard doctor visits. While many patients appear well-regulated in clinical settings, more than half of these individuals exhibit blood pressure levels outside the target range during the morning hours.

Globally, the number of adults living with hypertension has doubled over the last 30 years. In Germany, data from the Robert Koch Institute indicates that 30.9 percent of women and 32.8 percent of men are affected. The German Hypertension League reports that approximately 30 percent of cases remain undiagnosed.

Clinical guidelines from the European Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Cardiology define hypertension as values exceeding 140/90 mmHg. The European Society of Cardiology further distinguishes ‘increased blood pressure’ as systolic values between 120–139 mmHg or diastolic values between 70–89 mmHg, noting that organ damage can begin even at these slightly elevated levels.