Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Blood Pressure Increases During a Simulated Night Shift in Persons at Risk for Hypertension

  • Published:
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Shift work with sleep disruption is a systemic stressor that may possibly be associated with blood pressure dysregulation and hypertension.

Purpose

We hypothesize that rotation to a simulated night shift with sleep deprivation will produce blood pressure elevations in persons at risk for development of hypertension.

Method

We examined the effects of a simulated night shift on resting blood pressure in 51 diurnal young adults without current hypertension. Resting blood pressure was monitored throughout a 24-h period of total sleep deprivation with sustained cognitive work. Twelve participants (23.5%) reported one or more parents with a diagnosis of hypertension. Ten participants were classified as prehypertensive by JNC-7 criteria. Only two prehypertensive subjects reported parental hypertension.

Results

Results indicate that, as the night shift progressed, participants with a positive family history of hypertension showed significantly higher resting diastolic blood pressure than those with a negative family history of hypertension (p = 0.007). Prehypertensive participants showed elevated blood pressure throughout the study.

Conclusion

These data suggest that rotation to a simulated night shift with sleep deprivation may contribute to blood pressure dysregulation in persons with a positive family history of hypertension.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. National Sleep Foundation. 2006 Sleep in America poll. 2006. January 8, 2007 from http://www.sleepfoundation.org/_content/hottopics/2006_summary_of_findings.pdf.

  2. Pickering TG. Could hypertension be a consequence of the 24/7 society? The effects of sleep deprivation and shift work. J Clin Hypertens. 2006;8:819–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Egan BM. Sleep and hypertension: burning the candle at both ends really is hazardous to your health. Hypertension. 2006;47:816–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Gangwisch JE, Heymsfield SB, Boden-Albala B, Buijs RM, Kreier F, Pickering T, et al. Short sleep duration as a risk factor for hypertension: analyses of the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Hypertension. 2006;47:833–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Gottlieb DJ, Redline S, Nieto FJ, Baldwin CM, Newman AB, Resnick HE, et al. Association of usual sleep duration with hypertension: the Sleep Heart Health Study. Sleep. 2006;29:1009–14.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Wright K. Too little sleep: a risk factor for obesity? Obesity Management. 2006;2:140–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Leineweber C, Kecklund G, Janszky I, Akerstedt T, Orth-Gomér K. Poor sleep increases the prospective risk for recurrent events in middle-aged women with coronary disease. J Psychosom Res. 2003;54(2):121–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Akerstedt T, Knutsson A, Alfredsson L, Theorell T. Shiftwork and cardiovascular disease. Scand J Work Environ & Health. 1984;10:409–14.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Knutsson A, Akerstedt T, Jonsson B, Orth-gomer K. Increased risk of ischaemic heart disease in shift workers. Lancet. 1986;8498:89–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Yamasaki F, Schwartz JE, Gerber LM, Warren K, Pickering TG. Impact of shift work and race/ethnicity on the diurnal rhythm of blood pressure and catecholamines. Hypertension. 1998;32:417–23.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Su T, Lin L, Baker D, Schnall P, Chen M, Hwang W, et al. Elevated blood pressure, decreased heart rate variability and incomplete blood pressure recovery after a 12-hour night shift work. J Occup Health. 2008;50:380–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Suwazono Y, Dochi M, Dakata K, Okubo Y, Oishi M, Tanaka K, et al. Shift work is a risk factor for increased blood pressure in Japanese men: a 14-year historical cohort study. Hypertension. 2008;52:581–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Esler M. The sympathetic system and hypertension. Am J Hypertens. 2000;13:99S–105.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. McCubbin JA, Richardson JE, Langer AW, Kizer JS, Obrist PA. Sympathetic neuronal function and left ventricular performance during behavioral stress in young adults: the relationship between plasma catecholamines and systolic time intervals. Psychophysiol. 1983;20:102–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. al’Absi M, Lovallo WR. Cortisol concentrations in serum of borderline hypertensive men exposed to a novel experimental setting. Psychoneuroendocrinol. 1993;18:355–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. McCubbin JA, Surwit RS, Williams RB, Nemeroff CB, McNeilly M. Altered pituitary hormone response to naloxone in hypertension development. Hypertension. 1989;14:636–44.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Chang HM, Wu UI, Lin TB, Lan CT, Chien WC, Huang WL, et al. Total sleep deprivation inhibits the neuronal nitric oxide synthase and cytochrome oxidase reactivities in the nodose ganglion of adult rats. J Anat. 2006;209:239–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Mion D, Krieger EM. Blood pressure regulation after deprivation of rapid-eye-movement sleep in rats. J Hypertension. 1988;6 Suppl 4:74–6.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Tochikubo O, Ikeda A, Miyajima E, Masao I. Effects of insufficient sleep on blood pressure monitored by a new multibiomedical recorder. Hypertension. 1996;27:1318–24.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ogawa Y, Kanbayashi T, Saito Y, Takahashi Y, Kitajima T, Takahashi K, et al. Total sleep deprivation elevates blood pressure through arterial baroreflex resetting: a study with microneurographic technique. Sleep. 2003;26:986–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Bonnet MH, Arand DL. Heart rate variability in insomniacs and matched normal sleepers. Psychosom Med. 1998;60:610–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. JNC, 7. The seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. NIH Publication No. 03-5233, pp. 1–52. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2003.

  23. Hunt S, Williams RR, Barlow GK. A comparison of positive family history definitions for defining risk of future disease. J Chron Dis. 1986;39:809–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Light KC. Psychosocial precursors of hypertension: experimental evidence. Circ. 1987;76:I67–76.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Gerin W, Pickering TG. Association between delayed recovery of blood pressure after acute mental stress and parental history of hypertension. J Hypertens. 1995;13:603–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Pilcher JJ, McClelland LE, Moore DD, Haarmann H, Baron J, Wallsten TS, et al. Language performance under sustained work and sleep deprivation conditions. Aviation Space Environ Med. 2007;78:B25–38.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Pickering TG, Hall JE, Appel LJ, Falkner BE, Graves J, Hill MN, et al. Recommendations for blood pressure measurement in humans and experimental animals: Part 1: blood pressure measurement in humans: a statement for professionals from the Subcommittee of Professional and Public Education of the American Heart Association Council on High Blood Pressure. Hypertension. 2005;45:142–61.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Hastrup J, Light KC, Obrist PA. Parental hypertension and cardiovascular response to stress in healthy young adults. Psychophysiol. 1982;19:615–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Manuck SB, Giordani B, McQuaid KJ, Garrity SJ. Behaviorally induced cardiovascular reactivity among sons of reported hypertensive and normotensive parents. J Psychosom Res. 1981;25:261–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. McCubbin JA, Helfer SG, Switzer FS, Galloway C, Griffith WV. Opioid analgesia in persons at risk for hypertension. Psychosom Med. 2006;68:116–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Moore-Ede MC, Richardson GS. Medical implications of shift-work. Rev Méd. 1985;36:607–17.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Peter JH, Penzel T, Podszus T, von Wichert P, editors. Sleep and health risk. Berlin: Springer; 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Sternberg H, Rosenthal T, Shamiss A, Green M. Altered circadian rhythm of blood pressure in shift workers. J Hum Hypertension. 1995;9:349–53.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Rutenfranz J, Colquhoun WP, Knauth P, Ghata JN. Biomedical and psychosocial aspects of shift work. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1977;3:165–82.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Monk TH. Coping with the stress of shift work. Work Stress. 1988;2:169–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Penn PE, Bootzin RR. Behavioral techniques for enhancing alertness and performance in shift work. Work Stress. 1990;4:213–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Scott AJ, Ladou J. Shift-work: effects on sleep and health with recommendations for medical surveillance and screening. Occup Environ Med. 1990;5:273–99.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Folkard S, Minors DS, Waterhouse JM. Chronobiology and shift work: current issues and trends. Chronobiologia. 1985;12:31–54.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Minors DS, Scott AR, Waterhouse JM. Circadian arrhythmia: shift-work, travel and health. Occup Environ Med. 1986;36:39–44.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Tepas DI, Carvalhais AB. Sleep patterns of shiftworkers. Occup Med. 1990;5:199–208.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Pilcher JJ, Lambert BJ, Huffcutt AI. Differential effects of permanent and rotating shifts on self-report sleep length: a meta-analytic review. Sleep. 2000;23:155–63.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Kitamura T, Onishi K, Dohi T, Okinaka T, Isaka N, Nakano T. Circadian rhythm of blood pressure is transformed from a dipper to a non-dipper pattern in shift workers with hypertension. J Hum Hypertension. 2002;16:193–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Campbell TS, Key BL, Ireland AD, Bacon SL, Ditto B. Early socioeconomic status is associated with adult nighttime blood pressure dipping. Psychosom Med. 2008;70:276–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Sherwood A, Steffen PR, Blumenthal JA, Kuhn C, Hinderliter AL. Nighttime blood pressure dipping: the role of the sympathetic nervous system. Am J Hypertens. 2002;15:111–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the Center for Advanced Study of Language, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA. We also thank our research staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students at Clemson University for their assistance in data gathering for the study and data management. These individuals include Jesse Allen, J. Adam Beeco, Tracy Lindquist, Bridget McConnell, Eric McKibben, Joe Mulvihill, Kristina O’Connell, Tyler Pierce, Ginger Pottorff, Susan Redmond, Hilary Schoon, Colin Shive, Sarah Spainhour, Rebekkah Wills, Cassandra Wright, and Mark Zajack.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Clemson University, 319-B Brackett Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    James A. McCubbin, June J. Pilcher & D. DeWayne Moore

Authors
  1. James A. McCubbin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. June J. Pilcher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. DeWayne Moore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James A. McCubbin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McCubbin, J.A., Pilcher, J.J. & Moore, D.D. Blood Pressure Increases During a Simulated Night Shift in Persons at Risk for Hypertension. Int.J. Behav. Med. 17, 314–320 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-010-9117-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-010-9117-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation