Sleep Disruption and Blood Pressure

Sleep is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to health. Sleep disturbances are associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, with especially persuasive evidence linking poor sleep to cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. In this chapter, we review the implications of sleep disorders for hypertension risk and management. Special emphasis is placed on discussing the role of obstructive sleep apnea, an established risk factor for secondary hypertension. The potential impact of other sleep-disordered breathing conditions on elevated blood pressure is also addressed, along with the emerging role of insomnia, sleep-related movement disorders, and narcolepsy. Therapeutic considerations relative to the possible antihypertensive effects of treating sleep difficulties are presented.