What are Dippers and Non-Dippers?
A. Normally the average blood pressure is 10 to 20% lower during the night than during the day, a pattern known as dipping. In some individuals, who are termed non-dippers the blood pressure shows little or no decrease during the night. This is seen in about 25% of patiens with hypertension. There is some evidence that non-dippers are at a greater risk than dippers for getting some of the adverse consequences of high blood pressure. Indeed, some studies suggest that the nighttime blood pressure (which is higher in non-dippers than dippers) may be the best predictor of risk. There are several known causes of non-dipping. These include interrrupted sleep, African American race, obesity, kidney disease, and diabetes.
