The term morning surge may still sound foreign to many people, yes. Morning surge is a condition when blood pressure rises in the morning. Many think that this condition can cause a heart attack. However, is this assumption true?
The cause of the morning surge so far is not known with certainty. However, the increase in blood pressure in the morning due to morning surges is thought to be related to the circadian rhythm or the body’s natural sleep cycle regulators centered in the brain.
When you wake up, the brain will release several kinds of hormones, such as cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. The release of these hormones is thought to be the cause of increased blood pressure in the morning.
In addition to the release of hormones in the morning, several studies have also shown that certain factors, such as stress, excessive salt consumption, smoking habits, or lack of sleep, can also increase the risk of morning surge.
Facts About Morning Surge and Its Relation to Heart Attack
Morning surge is actually not a disease, but the body’s natural mechanism to get ready for activities after waking up. Therefore, morning surges are generally harmless. Blood pressure that is slightly increased due to the morning surge will usually drop back during the day.
However, morning surges can be dangerous in people who have high blood pressure or uncontrolled hypertension. When high blood pressure is not controlled, this condition tends to get worse in the morning when you just wake up, precisely when the morning surge occurs.
This very high blood pressure can increase the risk of interference with blood flow or even rupture of blood vessels in the body’s organs. Well, that’s what can then cause a heart attack.
When having a heart attack in the morning or after waking up, a person may experience symptoms in the form of severe chest pain that radiates to the neck, jaw, shoulders, or back, shortness of breath, headache, weakness, cold sweat, and heart palpitations.
Preventing Heart Attacks Due to Morning Surge
To reduce the risk of a heart attack in the morning when the body experiences a morning surge, you need to keep blood pressure stable in the following ways:
1. Doing exercise regularly and regularly
2. Live a balanced nutritious diet
3. Limit daily salt intake, which is no more than 2 teaspoons per day
4. Limiting consumption of alcoholic and caffeinated beverages
5. Stay away from cigarettes or cigarette smoke
6. Get enough rest
7. Manage stress well
In addition, you also need to have regular health checks to the doctor to measure blood pressure and assess whether you are at risk for heart disease. In addition to the doctor’s office, you can also check your blood pressure at home using a sphygmomanometer.
If the results of the examination show that you have high blood pressure or are at risk for heart disease, your doctor will prescribe medications, such as antihypertensive drugs, to treat your condition and prevent complications when your body experiences a morning surge.