Ask the doctor

Is my blood pressure too high in the morning?

Q. When I get up in the morning, my systolic blood pressure is 30 to 50 points higher than it is later in the day (about 110). I am taking three different blood pressure medications. Is this unusual?

A. Blood pressure is often highest in the morning, even in people who don't have high blood pressure. Long before you wake up, your body starts boosting your blood pressure. That's so there's adequate blood flow through your 60,000 or so miles of blood vessels when you finally get out of bed.