Waking up to urinate at night affects blood pressure

News briefs

February 2, 2026

By Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

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Cartoon-type illustration of an older man sitting up in bed; a thought bubble next to his head contains a toilet. Moon and stars outside a window indicate that it is during the night.

Hypertension

The study included 1,252 people who were taking at least one medication to treat high blood pressure; their average age was 67. They wore special devices with multiple sensors that continuously tracked their movement and measured their blood pressure every 30 minutes over a 24-hour period. The participants also reported their sleep time, awake time, nocturia frequency, and sleep quality in a diary.

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About the Author

Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Julie Corliss has been the executive editor of the Harvard Heart Letter since 2013. She also writes for the Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Women’s Health Watch, and Harvard Men’s Health Watch, as well as for Harvard … See Full Bio

View all posts by Julie Corliss

About the Reviewer

Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. … See Full Bio

View all posts by Robert H. Shmerling, MD

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