Regular Night Trips To The Toilet Can Be A Sign Of Hypertension

2023 Author: Abraham Higgins | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 23:16

Regular night trips to the toilet can be a sign of hypertension

Scientists found that getting up at night to urinate was associated with a 40% increase in the chances of being diagnosed with hypertension. And the more toilet visits, the higher the risk.

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Night trips to the toilet are a sign of high blood pressure, Japanese researchers said at the 83rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS 2019), held March 29-31 in Yokohama. Joint scientific sessions are hosted by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and JCS are part of the ESC's global events program.

“Our research shows that if you need to urinate at night - this is called nocturia - you may have high blood pressure and / or excess fluid in your body. If you still have nocturia, ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and salt intake,”said study author Dr. Satoshi Konno of the Division of Hypertension, Tohoku Rosai Hospital, Sendai. Japan.

Studies previously conducted in Japan and published in 2017 in the International Journal of Urology showed a link between high salt intake and nocturia.

This study examined the relationship between nocturia and hypertension in the general Japanese population. It was attended by 3,749 residents of Watari, who underwent an annual health check in 2017. For research purposes, he measured his blood pressure, and information about nocturia was obtained using a questionnaire. Of the 1,882 participants who responded to the questionnaire, 1,295 (69%) had nocturia. Participants with a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg were considered hypertensive. and above, as well as those taking antihypertensive drugs.

Nocturia (one or several trips to the toilet per night) was significantly associated with hypertension after controlling for possible factors. And the risk of arterial hypertension increased significantly with the increase in the number of cases of nocturia per night.

“We found that getting up at night to urinate was associated with a 40% increase in the chances of being diagnosed with hypertension. And the more toilet visits, the higher the risk of hypertension,”said Dr. Satoshi Konno.

The researchers warn that the results do not show a causal relationship between nocturia and hypertension. Various factors can influence the relationship, including lifestyle, salt intake, ethnicity and genetic background.

“Early detection and treatment of hypertension is very important to prevent cardiovascular disease. We must remember that nocturia is not only due to problems with the urinary organs, but also due to systemic diseases such as hypertension,”explained Dr. Mutsuo Harada, Press Coordinator at JCS 2019.

“More than a billion people suffer from high blood pressure worldwide. High blood pressure is the leading global cause of premature death, accounting for nearly ten million deaths in 2015. The ESC (European Society of Cardiology) guidelines recommend the use of drugs to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease. It is also recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle, including limiting salt, moderate alcohol consumption, a healthy diet, regular exercise, weight control and smoking cessation,”summed up ESC President, Professor Barbara Casadei.