Examining the Circadian Timing Effects of the Hypotensive Response to Exercise

Launched by FREDA PATTERSON · Jun 25, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how the time of day when you exercise affects your blood pressure in young adults with slightly high blood pressure. We know that exercise can help lower blood pressure for up to a day, but it’s not clear if exercising in the morning, afternoon, or evening makes a difference. The study wants to find out how blood pressure changes over 24 hours after exercising at different times, based on each person’s natural body clock.

If you are between 18 and 39 years old and have a resting blood pressure that’s a bit high (between 120/80 and 140/90), you might be able to take part. Participants will first have their natural body rhythm measured to find their “biological night.” Then, they will do three supervised treadmill exercise sessions—one in the biological morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. Before and after each exercise, blood pressure will be monitored for 24 hours. This study does not include people with serious health conditions, sleep disorders, heavy physical activity, or certain medication use. It’s a safe way to learn more about how exercise timing can help manage blood pressure.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 18-39 Years old
• • Resting blood pressure greater than or equal to 120/80 mmHg or less than 140/90 mmHg
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosis or history of chronic or autoimmune disease (i.e., cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, endocrine, cancer)
• • Diagnosis or history of sleep disorder (i.e., obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome)
• • Alcohol or drug dependence
• • Elevated risk for sleep disorders
• • Elevated risk for clinical depression
• • Normotensive (blood pressure less than 120/80 mmHg) or stage 2+ hypertension (blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg)
• • Body mass index less than 18.5 or greater than 35 kg/m2
• • Self-reported use of sleep medications/supplements (e.g., melatonin)
• • Self-reported use of medications influencing vascular physiology (e.g., antihypertensive medications, weight loss medications)
• • Highly physically active (greater than or equal to 300 minutes moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week)
• • Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
• • Current tobacco use (greater than or equal to 1 cigarette in the past month)
• • Nighttime or rotating shift work within the last 3 months
• • Contraindications to aerobic exercise