HELP-HY: Health Education and sLeep Program in HYpertension

Inclusion criteria

• Age: 18 to 65 (inclusive)
• Gender: both males and females
• Body mass index (BMI): 18.5-34.9 kg/m2
• Habitual sleep duration <7 hours and voluntary prolongation of sleep when circumstances allow (as indicated by napping and/or >45 min catch-up sleep during weekends or holidays)
• Presence of prehypertension (office systolic BP (SBP) 120-139 mmHg and/or diastolic BP (DBP) 80-89 mmHg) , Stage 1 hypertension (office SBP 140-159 mmHg and/or DBP 90-99 mmHg ) , or currently taking antihypertensive medications
• Either on no prescription medications (other than oral contraceptive pills, or intrauterine devices) or on stable medical regimen for at least 1 month, if taking prescription medications for chronic conditions
• Not pregnant or breast feeding and not intending to become pregnant or breast feed
• Not a current smoker or tobacco user
• Ability to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Vulnerable study populations will be excluded
• Pregnancy
• Smoking
• Shift-work
• Travel across >2 time zones in the previous month
• Presence of overt cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cancer, sleep/circadian disorders, psychiatric disorders
• If taking prescription medications for chronic conditions, change in therapy (type, frequency and/or dosage) over the previous month
• Sleep aids
• Habitual sleep duration ≥7 hours
• Excessive alcohol (>14 drinks/week in men and >7 drinks/week in women) and/or excessive caffeine intake (>400 mg)
• Currently on a diet and/or actively trying to lose weight
• History of drowsing driving
• Severe daytime sleepiness (score >15 at the Epworth Sleepiness Scale)
• Current or previous (during the past 2 months) participation in other research studies at the discretion of study personnel
• Blood/plasma donation during the past 2 months
• Unwillingness or inability to adjust sleep schedule