Human Research Coordination

The goal of this study is to learn how exercise timing affects blood pressure in adults with elevated or high blood pressure. We know that exercise can influence the body’s natural 24-hour rhythms, including blood pressure patterns. A single exercise session can lower blood pressure for up to 24 hours, but we don’t fully understand how the time-of-day for exercise affects this response. The main question this study aims to answer is:

• When the same person exercises at different times of day (morning, afternoon, or evening), how does this affect their blood pressure over the next 24 hours?

Participants will:
Undergo an in-lab assessment of individual biological rhythm that will indicate the clock-time for an individual’s biological night
Complete 3 supervised treadmill exercise sessions:
1 in the biological morning (biological night + 10 hours)
1 in the biological afternoon (biological night + 15 hours)
1 in the biological evening (biological night + 20 hours)
Complete a 24-hour blood pressure assessment before and after each exercise session

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

If you are interested in participating, please complete the interest form using the QR code or the link provided.