Chronobiology of hypertension and its chronotherapeutical management - A review

Abstract

Hypertension / High blood pressure is a very common disease and is a major risk factor for total organ failure, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and premature death around worldwide. Prevalence of hypertension varies across regions and country and is dramatically variable in presentation. Sometimes it act as a silent killer i.e. the patients are unaware that they have the condition. According to estimation 46.5% of adults are unaware about their hypertensive condition, 36.9% are diagnosed and treated and the remaining 13.8% with hypertension have it under control. The investigation regarding the chronobiology, chronotherapy and chronopharmacology in treatment of hypertension began a long back ago. Hypertension is a lifestyle disease largely exhibit circadian variation. Also the condition is more evident to surge during early morning hours. Hence this requires chronotherapy. The chronobiology of hypertension along with its treatment in relation to the circadian variation is reviewed in this article.