If you have high blood pressure, one thing you should not do in the morning is immediately load up on caffeine, nicotine, stress, or intense exertion right after waking up.
Blood pressure naturally rises in the morning (“morning surge”), and that’s also when the risk of heart attacks and strokes is higher. (Mayo Clinic)
A few habits that can temporarily spike blood pressure even more include:
- Drinking strong coffee or energy drinks on an empty stomach
- Smoking or vaping right after waking
- Jumping into intense exercise without warming up
- Doomscrolling emails/social media and triggering stress
- Skipping prescribed blood pressure medication
The American Heart Association recommends managing blood pressure with regular medication use, stress control, exercise, and healthy eating. (www.heart.org)
A better morning routine for hypertension is usually:
- hydrate first,
- take medications as prescribed,
- do light movement or stretching,
- eat a lower-sodium breakfast,
- and ease into caffeine instead of overdoing it.
