How sleep and your body clock affect high blood pressure
Sleep and circadian mechanisms in hypertension
['FUNDING_R01'] · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11323515
Researchers will compare how sleep and the body's internal clock affect nighttime blood pressure in adults with untreated high blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PORTLAND, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11323515 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You may be asked to join if you are an adult with untreated high blood pressure. In the clinic you'll have continuous blood pressure monitoring, sleep studies, and controlled sleep-wake and light schedules to separate sleep effects from the internal circadian rhythm. The team will take blood samples to measure hormones like renin and aldosterone, record heart rate variability to estimate nervous-system activity, and test blood vessel function. These measures will be compared between people whose blood pressure drops at night (dippers) and those whose blood pressure does not (non-dippers) to see what drives higher nighttime BP.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (21+) with untreated high blood pressure who can attend overnight and daytime visits at the research clinic and follow sleep-wake scheduling.
Not a fit: People already taking antihypertensive medications, children, or those with major uncontrolled illnesses may not be eligible or likely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to sleep- or timing-based treatments to lower nighttime blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular risk.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked non-dipping blood pressure to worse outcomes and suggested sleep and circadian timing matter, but isolating their separate roles in untreated patients is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
PORTLAND, UNITED STATES
- OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY — PORTLAND, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: THOSAR, SAURABH SUHAS — OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: THOSAR, SAURABH SUHAS
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.