Drugs commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart attack patients are much more effective when taken in the evening, according to Canadian researchers in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Many doctors advise their patients to take heart medications in the morning. However, recent research by scientists from the University of Guelph has shown that angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors – commonly used in the treatment of high blood pressure and in patients after heart attacks – are much more effective when taken in the evening just before bedtime.
Taking these drugs in the morning was found not to be more effective than placebo.
Professor Tami Martino, Jeremy Simpson and Nazneen Tata conducted a study on hypertensive mice.
“Heart medications are most often taken in the morning, doctors advise you to use them at this time for the comfort of the patient, but do not take into account the rhythm of the biological clock or the side effects associated with the time of day,” explains Professor Martino. And she adds that taking heart medication in the evening is much more beneficial.
This is because these drugs affect the ACE hormone involved in the structural changes of the heart. ACE levels are rising just at night, which means that in patients it can damage this organ.
“The administration of ACE inhibitors in the evening correlates with the biological rhythm of the action of this hormone” – said the researcher. And she adds that inhibiting the hormone’s action when it is at its strongest prevents damage to the heart.
Statistics show that heart attacks and sudden cardiac death most often occur early in the morning, and people working at night have a disturbed biological clock and an increased risk of heart disease.
Preliminary results from earlier studies indicate that the heart regenerates itself while healthy people sleep.
According to the authors of the research, apart from the time of taking the drug, the short-active forms of ACE inhibitors have a beneficial effect.
“Since the drug is most effective when you sleep, it does not need to last all day. The use of short-acting ACE inhibitors may be an effective way to avoid side effects, »the researchers explain. (PAP)
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