Blood pressure in hot climates

[237SJ]

I`ve just been on holiday with a friend who has low blood pressure and nearly passed out a couple of times. She said that blood pressure reduces in hot climates. Could there be a theory that mediterranean and other warm countries have lower rates of stroke/heart disease, not because they consume olive oil, drink red wine etc but simply because their blood pressure is lower due to the heat? Any research been done on this?

[Sqad]

Lots of research from reputable sources.

It would seem that in hot climates, your BP falls during the day, but rises again in the evening, night and early morning, so overall, there is little difference between hot climates and UK climate.

As for your friend, it is difficult to say what caused her "fainting" it could have been due to low BP but more likely to dehydration.

Not sure about the red wine, or indeed the olive oil, but in my experience, the people in the Med.countries, eat and drink at the "drop of a hat"

As

[237SJ]

Thanks. Was just wondering. If it falls during the day and rises at night would that mean that the temporary respite in the day would be beneficial overall and reduce the risks slightly.
I don`t think my friend was dehydrated as I drilled it into her about drinking plenty of water. I don`t think making her go out kayaking in 31 degrees helped though!

[Sqad]

237SJ....I think it may well do, but it would be interesting to find out if heart attacks in the Med countries were less common during the day and more common at night. I don´t know the answer to that, but I guess that there would be no difference.

It would be interesting to know, if someone better qualified than me, could tell us that if one was on BP lowering tablets whether or not it would be better taking then at night, rather than in the morning whilst holidaying in hot climates.