Between six and nine in the morning, the risk of cardiovascular emergencies may be particularly high: the likelihood of a stroke rises by 72% during these hours, while that of a heart attack increases by 40%. Trisha Pasricha, a gastroenterologist at Harvard Medical School, told The Washington Post about this. She linked this pattern to changes in cardiovascular function after waking.

According to the expert, hormone levels shift in the morning: production of melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles, decreases, while cortisol levels rise. At the same time, blood pressure begins to increase. In addition, platelets — blood cells involved in clotting — become more prone to clumping together. The concentration of a protein that prevents blood clots from dissolving also rises at this time.

“Together, these processes can create conditions that promote blood clot formation and put additional strain on the cardiovascular system. People with hypertension should pay particular attention to their morning blood pressure readings,” the specialist warned.

Pasricha recommends that patients with high blood pressure take their prescribed medications regularly and avoid missing doses. However, she says there is no need to switch to taking medication in the evening on their own: following the prescribed treatment regimen is more important.

“The increased risk in the morning does not mean that a heart attack or stroke will necessarily occur during these hours. However, people with cardiovascular disease should measure their blood pressure regularly in the morning — before taking their medication. These measurements help track changes in readings and assess how well treatment is working,” she concluded.