It is sometimes called the
“Silent Killer”.
If you’re living with this dangerous condition your
risk of heart attack and stroke is 2–4 times
greater between 6am and noon.
One third of Australians over 50 are living with
high blood pressure.
Will you join our researchers
on their quest to protect
more Australians from this
life-threatening condition?
Please make a gift today.
It could save a life
tomorrow.
One third of Australians over 50 are living with
high blood pressure.
Your blood pressure is the single most significant
risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
If you’re living with this dangerous condition your
risk of heart attack and stroke in the morning hours
can increase by up to 2 to 4 times.
Growing research suggests that patients with
hypertension and an excessive early-morning rise
in blood pressure or “a.m. surge,” can have an even
greater risk of stroke.
What is “morning hypertension”?
Morning hypertension or “morning surge,” is a condition
in which your blood pressure rises dramatically during
the first few hours after you wake up.
Who is most at risk?
If you have high blood pressure. High blood pressure
accounts for 42% of the burden of cardiovascular
disease, making it the biggest contributor to heart
attack and stroke.
If you have diabetes. A staggering 75 per cent of of
adults living with type 2 diabetes also have high blood
pressure and are at increased risk of cardiovascular
disease and its deadly complications including stroke
and heart attack.
Blood pressure increases when you wake
Blood pressure is at its lowest during sleeping hours.
Between 6am and noon, the body releases certain
hormones that boost energy and increase morning
alertness, but this also results in a sharp increase in
blood pressure.
Arterial pressure (mm Hg)
220
Pain
200
Sleep
Stress
180
160
140
Systolic
120
100
80
Diastolic
60
40
1
3
5
PM
7
9
11
1
3
Circadian rhythm
You can help protect and prevent more Australians from
the deadly effects of this life-threatening condition.
5
AM
7
Professor Geoff Head analyses results to help identify the causes
of the potentially life-threatening “am spike” in blood pressure.
Professor Geoff Head and his team have tremendous
hope that we will soon be able to transform diagnostic
and treatment options for high blood pressure.
You can help our researchers find a solution.
Baker IDI researchers rely on friends
like you to continue improving the
diagnosis and treatment of this
potentially life-threatening condition.
Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the
arteries as the heart pumps it around the body.
When someone takes your blood pressure, two
measurements are obtained (eg. 120/80 mmHg, said
as “120 over 80”):
Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure
Systolic – pressure in the artery as the heart contracts.
This is represented by the top, higher number (“120”).
Diastolic – pressure in the artery when the heart
is relaxing and being filled with blood. This is
represented by the bottom, lower number (“80”).
Professor Head and his team are undertaking
Australia’s first population based study using 24 hr
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) to:
If successful, Professor Head’s research
could lead to the development of new and
more effective drugs to treat high blood
pressure and ultimately save millions
of lives by reducing the incidence of
cardiovascular disease and stroke.
The findings from this innovative project will help
Baker IDI researchers work toward prevention and
eventually a cure for this deadly condition.
Blood pressure – The Facts
What is High Blood Pressure?
Baker IDI’s Professor Geoff Head is leading medical
research world-wide to better understand the cause of
the “morning surge in blood pressure”.
determine the key lifestyle, treatment and clinical
factors influencing the “am surge in BP”
predict the risk of a future heart attack and stroke
for hypertensive patients.
Baker IDI research participant Norman Wodetski
is fitted with a 24 hr blood pressure monitor.
How your gift can support Baker IDI researchers
Clinical testing
Your gift could help to cover the costs of assessing,
testing and monitoring each research participant
using the 24 hr BP (the cost of assessing one
participant is $100).
Equipment
Your gift could help purchase crucial equipment such
as additional Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitors
($3,500 per monitor) to ensure all 1,000 participants
are monitored before the 29 June deadline.
Research Costs
Your gift could help fund a talented researcher to
analyse the results of this innovative study and find
the causes of this life-threatening condition which
can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke in
the morning by 2–4 times. ($65,000 per year).
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure, often referred to as
hypertension, is prolonged elevation of the blood
pressure. It occurs when the blood is being pumped
through the arteries with more force than normal.
Symptoms
If your blood pressure remains high, it can lead to
serious and life-threatening problems such as a heart
attack, stroke, heart failure or kidney disease. High blood
pressure usually does not have any warning signs. You
can have high blood pressure and feel perfectly well. The
only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is by
having it checked regularly by your doctor.
Diagnosis
Your doctor is likely to measure your blood pressure
several times on several occasions to confirm whether
or not you have high blood pressure. He or she may
recommend that you do a test to measure your blood
pressure over a 24-hour period.
Systole
Diastole
How to monitor your blood pressure?
There is no firm rule about what defines high
blood pressure, however the following figures are
useful guide:
Normal blood pressure: generally less than
120/80 mmHg (ie systolic blood
pressure less and 120 and diastolic blood
pressure less than 80 mmHG)
Normal to high blood pressure: between 120/80
and 140/90 mmHg.
High blood pressure: 140/90 mmHg or higher. If
your blood pressure is 180/110 mmHg or higher,
than you have very high blood pressure.
You can help protect all Australians
from this “silent killer” today.
With your gift today we have the potential to transform
diagnostic and treatment options for high blood
pressure – the single most significant risk factor
for heart disease and stroke.
To make a donation complete the enclosed form or contact us
on 1800 827 040 or visit www.bakeridi.edu.au./donate_now/