Anxiety effect on blood pressure
Anxiety and high blood pressure: Link, differences, and treatment
Anxiety and high blood pressure can be symptoms of each other. Anxiety may lead to high blood pressure, and high blood pressure may trigger feelings of anxiety.
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines anxiety as feelings of worry or tension. It can cause certain physical symptoms, including increased heart rate and sweating. The APA also notes that anxiety can increase a person’s blood pressure.
Additionally, having long-term high blood pressure, or hypertension, can cause people to feel anxious about their health and future. Severe hypertension can also cause a person to experience anxiety.
Keep reading to learn more about the link between anxiety and high blood pressure, as well as how to treat both conditions.
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress. A person may feel anxious before a test or when waiting for important news.
Anxiety occurs when the body releases stress hormones. These hormones trigger an increase in the heart rate and a narrowing of the blood vessels. Both of these changes can cause a persons’ blood pressure to rise.
A 2015 review indicates that people with intense anxiety have a higher risk of hypertension than those with lower levels of anxiety. Researchers conclude that early detection and treatment of anxiety are particularly important in people with hypertension.
Anxiety-induced increases in blood pressure are usually temporary and subside once the anxiety lessens. Regularly having high levels of anxiety, however, can cause damage to the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels in the same way that long-term hypertension can.
In the long term, anxiety-related hormone changes can cause increased fat deposits, particularly around the abdomen. Anxiety can also prompt behavior changes in individuals, such as stress eating, which may indirectly contribute to hypertension.
Additionally, some medications for anxiety can increase blood pressure.
Research from 2017 found that serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), medications used to treat anxiety disorders, can increase blood pressure.
Having high blood pressure may trigger feelings of anxiety in some people. A person who has been diagnosed with hypertension may worry about their health and their future.
Additionally, the symptoms of hypertension can cause panic or anxiety. Symptoms of hypertension include:
- vision changes
- headaches
- irregular heart rhythm
- buzzing in the ears
Severe hypertension can also cause a person to experience anxiety. If a person experiences extreme anxiety alongside symptoms such as headache or shortness of breath, they should seek medical attention immediately.
There is currently no evidence to suggest that anxiety lowers a person’s blood pressure. However, having low blood pressure may cause a person to become anxious or worried.
Symptoms of low blood pressure can be similar to those of anxiety.
Symptoms of both low blood pressure and anxiety include:
- dizziness
- lightheadedness
- nausea
- fainting
- difficulty concentrating
Learn more about fluctuating blood pressure here.
It can be difficult to distinguish between anxiety and changes in blood pressure. Hypertension does not usually cause symptoms. This means it is important for a person to have their blood pressure checked regularly.
A person with low blood pressure may experience symptoms similar to those of anxiety. If a person is unsure whether their symptoms are due to anxiety or low blood pressure, they should speak with a doctor.
Additionally, people who have severe or recurrent symptoms of either should see their doctor. A doctor will be able to diagnose the underlying cause of the symptoms and can prescribe any necessary treatments.
There are several treatment options for anxiety. A person may require a combination of these treatments.
Medication
Several medicines can relieve the symptoms of anxiety.
Different types of medication will work for different people. Options include:
- buspirone, an anti-anxiety drug
- certain antidepressants
- benzodiazepines, which are a type of sedative medication for short-term anxiety relief
- beta-blockers, which helps a person’s heart beat more slowly and gently
Psychotherapy
Working with a psychotherapist can help people manage their anxiety symptoms.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective forms of psychotherapy for anxiety. CBT teaches people to change their thinking patterns to help them reduce anxious thoughts and worries.
During CBT, individuals learn techniques to manage their anxiety and gradually expose themselves to situations that trigger it. This helps the person become less fearful and anxious in these situations.
Lifestyle changes
A person can make lifestyle changes to help reduce feelings of anxiety. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) suggests the following to help with anxiety:
- exercising at least 20 minutes per day
- practicing mindfulness
- eating a nutritious balanced diet
- avoiding alcohol and drugs
- getting a good night’s sleep
- learning a new skill
- trying to reduce negative thoughts, countering them with positive ones
- setting goals and rewards
- having a support system
Read about natural remedies for anxiety here.
A person who has hypertension may be given a treatment plan by their doctor. This treatment plan can involve lifestyle changes, medications, or both.
Lifestyle changes
A person can make various lifestyle changes to lower their blood pressure, including:
- avoiding or limiting alcohol
- reducing salt intake
- eating a heart-healthy diet, which is rich in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains
- exercising regularly
- quitting smoking, if they smoke
- maintaining a moderate weight
- managing stress
- getting good-quality sleep
Learn about 15 natural ways to lower blood pressure here.
Medication
There are several types of medication for treating high blood pressure. These include:
- angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which prevent blood vessels from narrowing as much
- angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), to stop blood vessels from narrowing
- calcium channel blockers, which allow blood vessels to relax
- diuretics, which remove excess water and sodium from the body
- beta-blockers
The type of medication that a person needs will depend on several factors, including their general health and the severity of their hypertension.
Some people may need more than one type of medication to keep their blood pressure under control.
Individuals who think they may have anxiety, hypertension, or both, should speak with a doctor. Those who have severe symptoms should seek immediate care as this could indicate a medical emergency.
Symptoms to look out for include:
- fatigue
- nausea
- vomiting
- confusion
- chest pain
- muscle tremors
- shortness of breath
- back pain
- numbness or weakness
- difficulty speaking
Both hypertension and anxiety are highly treatable conditions. A person with anxiety will not necessarily develop hypertension.
However, seeking help as early as possible can improve the outcome for people with either condition and reduce the risk of complications.
Anxiety is a response to stress. Stress causes a release of hormones, such as epinephrine and cortisol. These hormones induce the “fight-or-flight” response, which prepares the body to either flee or confront the perceived threat.
Fight-or-flight hormones can cause a person to experience:
- increased heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- anxiety
- nervousness
- worry
Once a person has dealt with their stress, their body systems should return to normal. However, a person who has long-term stress can develop health problems, such as:
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- weight gain
- weakened immune system
- anxiety
- depression
- lack of sleep
- fatigue
- inability to made decisions
- memory issues
- increase in blood pressure
- increased heart rate
- increase in fats in the blood
There is a link between anxiety and high blood pressure. A person with anxiety may develop hypertension, especially if they regularly experience intense anxiety.
Other people may develop anxiety as a result of having high blood pressure.
Treatment for one condition can often improve the other.
Individuals who suspect they have one or both conditions should see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Anxiety and high blood pressure: Link, differences, and treatment
Anxiety and high blood pressure can be symptoms of each other. Anxiety may lead to high blood pressure, and high blood pressure may trigger feelings of anxiety.
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines anxiety as feelings of worry or tension. It can cause certain physical symptoms, including increased heart rate and sweating. The APA also notes that anxiety can increase a person’s blood pressure.
Additionally, having long-term high blood pressure, or hypertension, can cause people to feel anxious about their health and future. Severe hypertension can also cause a person to experience anxiety.
Keep reading to learn more about the link between anxiety and high blood pressure, as well as how to treat both conditions.
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress.
A person may feel anxious before a test or when waiting for important news.
Anxiety occurs when the body releases stress hormones. These hormones trigger an increase in the heart rate and a narrowing of the blood vessels. Both of these changes can cause a persons’ blood pressure to rise.
A 2015 review indicates that people with intense anxiety have a higher risk of hypertension than those with lower levels of anxiety. Researchers conclude that early detection and treatment of anxiety are particularly important in people with hypertension.
Anxiety-induced increases in blood pressure are usually temporary and subside once the anxiety lessens. Regularly having high levels of anxiety, however, can cause damage to the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels in the same way that long-term hypertension can.
In the long term, anxiety-related hormone changes can cause increased fat deposits, particularly around the abdomen. Anxiety can also prompt behavior changes in individuals, such as stress eating, which may indirectly contribute to hypertension.
Additionally, some medications for anxiety can increase blood pressure. Research from 2017 found that serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), medications used to treat anxiety disorders, can increase blood pressure.
Having high blood pressure may trigger feelings of anxiety in some people. A person who has been diagnosed with hypertension may worry about their health and their future.
Additionally, the symptoms of hypertension can cause panic or anxiety. Symptoms of hypertension include:
- vision changes
- headaches
- irregular heart rhythm
- buzzing in the ears
Severe hypertension can also cause a person to experience anxiety. If a person experiences extreme anxiety alongside symptoms such as headache or shortness of breath, they should seek medical attention immediately.
There is currently no evidence to suggest that anxiety lowers a person’s blood pressure. However, having low blood pressure may cause a person to become anxious or worried.
Symptoms of low blood pressure can be similar to those of anxiety. Symptoms of both low blood pressure and anxiety include:
- dizziness
- lightheadedness
- nausea
- fainting
- difficulty concentrating
Learn more about fluctuating blood pressure here.
It can be difficult to distinguish between anxiety and changes in blood pressure. Hypertension does not usually cause symptoms. This means it is important for a person to have their blood pressure checked regularly.
A person with low blood pressure may experience symptoms similar to those of anxiety. If a person is unsure whether their symptoms are due to anxiety or low blood pressure, they should speak with a doctor.
Additionally, people who have severe or recurrent symptoms of either should see their doctor. A doctor will be able to diagnose the underlying cause of the symptoms and can prescribe any necessary treatments.
There are several treatment options for anxiety.
A person may require a combination of these treatments.
Medication
Several medicines can relieve the symptoms of anxiety. Different types of medication will work for different people. Options include:
- buspirone, an anti-anxiety drug
- certain antidepressants
- benzodiazepines, which are a type of sedative medication for short-term anxiety relief
- beta-blockers, which helps a person’s heart beat more slowly and gently
Psychotherapy
Working with a psychotherapist can help people manage their anxiety symptoms.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective forms of psychotherapy for anxiety. CBT teaches people to change their thinking patterns to help them reduce anxious thoughts and worries.
During CBT, individuals learn techniques to manage their anxiety and gradually expose themselves to situations that trigger it. This helps the person become less fearful and anxious in these situations.
Lifestyle changes
A person can make lifestyle changes to help reduce feelings of anxiety.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) suggests the following to help with anxiety:
- exercising at least 20 minutes per day
- practicing mindfulness
- eating a nutritious balanced diet
- avoiding alcohol and drugs
- getting a good night’s sleep
- learning a new skill
- trying to reduce negative thoughts, countering them with positive ones
- setting goals and rewards
- having a support system
Read about natural remedies for anxiety here.
A person who has hypertension may be given a treatment plan by their doctor. This treatment plan can involve lifestyle changes, medications, or both.
Lifestyle changes
A person can make various lifestyle changes to lower their blood pressure, including:
- avoiding or limiting alcohol
- reducing salt intake
- eating a heart-healthy diet, which is rich in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains
- exercising regularly
- quitting smoking, if they smoke
- maintaining a moderate weight
- managing stress
- getting good-quality sleep
Learn about 15 natural ways to lower blood pressure here.
Medication
There are several types of medication for treating high blood pressure. These include:
- angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which prevent blood vessels from narrowing as much
- angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), to stop blood vessels from narrowing
- calcium channel blockers, which allow blood vessels to relax
- diuretics, which remove excess water and sodium from the body
- beta-blockers
The type of medication that a person needs will depend on several factors, including their general health and the severity of their hypertension. Some people may need more than one type of medication to keep their blood pressure under control.
Individuals who think they may have anxiety, hypertension, or both, should speak with a doctor. Those who have severe symptoms should seek immediate care as this could indicate a medical emergency.
Symptoms to look out for include:
- fatigue
- nausea
- vomiting
- confusion
- chest pain
- muscle tremors
- shortness of breath
- back pain
- numbness or weakness
- difficulty speaking
Both hypertension and anxiety are highly treatable conditions.
A person with anxiety will not necessarily develop hypertension.
However, seeking help as early as possible can improve the outcome for people with either condition and reduce the risk of complications.
Anxiety is a response to stress. Stress causes a release of hormones, such as epinephrine and cortisol. These hormones induce the “fight-or-flight” response, which prepares the body to either flee or confront the perceived threat.
Fight-or-flight hormones can cause a person to experience:
- increased heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- anxiety
- nervousness
- worry
Once a person has dealt with their stress, their body systems should return to normal. However, a person who has long-term stress can develop health problems, such as:
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- weight gain
- weakened immune system
- anxiety
- depression
- lack of sleep
- fatigue
- inability to made decisions
- memory issues
- increase in blood pressure
- increased heart rate
- increase in fats in the blood
There is a link between anxiety and high blood pressure.
A person with anxiety may develop hypertension, especially if they regularly experience intense anxiety.
Other people may develop anxiety as a result of having high blood pressure.
Treatment for one condition can often improve the other.
Individuals who suspect they have one or both conditions should see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Stress and arterial hypertension
Stress is the eternal companion of our life. It arises as a result of excessive nervous and mental stress, despondency, lack of positive prospects or a state of uncertainty. Stress is multifaceted in its manifestations. It plays an important role in the occurrence of not only disorders of human mental activity, but also a number of diseases.
Indeed, mental stress causes an increase in the release of hormones that increase vascular tone, increase cardiac output, accelerate heart contractions and, as a result, lead to an increase in blood pressure. nine0003
Stress is a factor provoking the development of arterial hypertension.
How can you tell if stress is having a negative effect on you? There are many signs, and they are all different in their manifestations.
All alarms can be divided into four categories:
Physical - dizziness, clenched jaws, headaches, indigestion, tense muscles, impaired sleep, palpitations, tinnitus, slouching posture, sweating of the palms, fatigue, exhaustion, trembling, weight gain or loss. nine0003
Psychological - worries and fears, difficulty in making decisions, forgetfulness, pessimism, devastation.
Emotional - a manifestation of anger, aggression, tearfulness, a feeling of powerlessness, frequent mood changes, irritability, a feeling of loneliness, negative thinking, nervousness, longing.
Behavioral - alcohol, drugs, overeating, changing jobs and even places of residence, if this is possible.
nine0002 Stress management is a useful skill that every modern person needs. It is very important to learn how to cope with stress yourself and protect yourself from its consequences, including such as arterial hypertension.
How to overcome stress:
- Use your time wisely (decide on the main tasks, and then assign a time for each of them and fix them, for example, in your notebook. After that, you can plan the rest of the tasks and assign time for them in between the main tasks). nine0026
- Avoid negative assumptions (eg “everything always goes wrong with me”, “I can’t do this”, etc.) and tune in to a positive outcome (eg “I can do this”, “I can do it” etc.).
- Analyze the causes of your anxiety. After you understand what the true cause is, think about how to minimize or completely eliminate the existing irritant.
- Avoid bad habits, they only exacerbate the presence of problems. nine0026
- Take rest breaks. Breaks should be taken not only during work, but also on weekends. In particular, make sure you get good sleep.
- Maintain positive relationships with other people.
- Go in for sports. At the preparation stage, you should undergo a medical examination, which will allow you to answer the following questions: What kind of sport is optimal for you? What is the maximum allowable load? Physical activity should be dosed.
Sports should be done 3-4 times a week. The recommended duration of one workout is 30-60 minutes. The load should be increased gradually. nine0026 - Take proportionate responsibility. Don't take on things you can't handle.
- Set realistic goals in life.
How to learn to relax.
Muscle relaxation. Switch your thoughts to yourself and your breathing. Take a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly. Mentally "walk" through your body. Pay attention to areas of stress. Relax your muscles. Slowly turn your head to the sides one or two times. Roll your shoulders back and forth. Then breathe deeply again. You should feel relaxed. nine0003
Psychological relaxation. This is also a very important moment of relaxation. Learn to imagine yourself in pleasant places: whether it is a quiet forest, a calm sea or mountains. This allows you to relax.
Relaxing music. Find quiet calm instrumental music in the store or on the Internet. Currently, there is such music on the market, specially created for this purpose.
Pressure and stress / bwell-swiss.ru
- What is stress? nine0057
- Pressure increase in response to stress as an adaptation
- Increased blood pressure due to chronic stress or adaptation failure
- How to correctly assess the level of your pressure during stress?
What is stress?
According to the classical definition, stress in medicine is usually called a non-specific reaction of the body that occurs as a response to the action of various physical factors and strong emotions (stressors) that threaten to disrupt the stable state of the body, and leading to characteristic changes in the nervous and endocrine systems. nine0003
It is widely believed that stress is always bad for a person. But in fact, stress performs the most important protective and adaptive function, launches processes that allow you to survive a stressful situation with the least losses, to emerge victorious from it.
The only real danger is repetitive, chronic stress [1].
This difference is clearly visible if we consider the effect of stress on blood pressure as an example.
Increasing pressure in response to stress as an adaptation
Consider the classic situation where a person needs to publicly present and then discuss a project with colleagues.
The feeling of excitement and emotional tension grows, the body reacts to this by releasing many hormones. Adrenaline, norepinephrine and cortisol lead to an increase in heart rate, increased pressure, increased blood flow, and an increase in blood glucose levels. Such changes lead to an improvement in the blood supply to the brain, it absorbs an increased amount of glucose and oxygen from the blood, increases concentration, concentration, increases the speed of reaction, which means that a person becomes maximally collected and ready to answer any question [2]. At the same time, in a healthy person, the pressure will be within acceptable limits, not higher than 140/90.
After some time, the discussion of the project ends, the stress factor disappears and the body returns to its original state. In a few hours, the heart rate decreases, blood pressure normalizes [3]. Thus, with the help of stress, the body successfully adapted to the situation, and then returned to a stable state (homeostasis).
Such a short-term increase in pressure can be harmful only if a person suffers from hypertension or other chronic diseases. nine0003
Increased blood pressure due to chronic stress or failure of adaptation
Suppose that the same person has a "black" streak in his life. First, the child messed up at school, and had to go to the director, then an icicle fell on the car and broke through the roof, and then the neighbors also flooded the apartment. Because of this, the next day he was late for work, having received a scolding from his superiors. A day later, his previously approved project was curtailed due to lack of funding, and he was transferred to remote work due to the pandemic, depriving him of the opportunity to see his beloved colleagues live.
nine0003
Such a series of stressful effects did not allow the body to fully recover, which led to a chronic increase in the level of cortisol, corticosterone and mineralocorticoid hormones in the blood, and these hormones, in turn, contributed to maintaining high blood pressure for a long time [5, 7]. As a result, there was a breakdown in adaptation, the body began to consider constantly elevated pressure as the norm, and baroceptors responsible for regulating pressure and various body systems responsible for homeostasis adapted to this level [4]. A step was taken towards the development of hypertension. nine0003
It is these people who often turn to therapists with complaints such as “jumping pressure from nerves” or “constant headache at work”. After all, any additional stress factor will cause a further increase in the already elevated level of blood pressure, leading to the development of unpleasant symptoms and the risk of a hypertensive crisis [9].
How to correctly assess the level of your pressure during stress?
It is best to measure pressure with an accurate automatic blood pressure monitor in a sitting position, after resting for 10-15 minutes.
nine0003
During a stressful event and 2-4 hours after it, elevated blood pressure may be recorded [9]. However, if a person does not experience severe discomfort, and the numbers do not exceed 140-150 units of systolic (“upper”) pressure and 100 units of diastolic (“lower”) pressure, then this condition can be attributed to the normal variant during adaptation to stress.
If the pressure remains high for more than 6 hours, symptoms such as headache, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, nausea are observed, it makes sense to call an ambulance or see a doctor. Also, the reason for going to the doctor can be constantly high blood pressure for several days or the appearance of similar symptoms during any emotional experiences [8]. nine0003
The best way to control your condition is with the help of an observation diary, briefly describing what exactly led to the increase in pressure, to what level it rose and what were the symptoms. Such a diary will greatly help the specialist to choose and prescribe the right treatment.
It is most convenient to keep such a diary when the tonometer has a memory function and remembers the results of the last measurements.
1. Bobkov A.I., Reshetnyak D.V., Nikushkin E.V. On compensated and decompensated hormonal and biochemical disorders in clinical stress. Klin. lab. diag. – 2009. No. 9, pp. 42–43
2. Buijs, R. M., & Van Eden, C. G. (2000). The integration of stress by the hypothalamus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex: balance between the autonomic nervous system and the neuroendocrine system. Cognition, Emotion and
3. Autonomic Responses: The Integrative Role of the Prefrontal Cortex and Limbic Structures, 117–132.
4. Yaribeygi, H., Panahi, Y., Sahraei, H., Johnston, T. P., & Sahebkar, A. (2017). The impact of stress on body function: A review. EXCLI journal, 16, 1057–1072. nine0057
5. McEwen B.S. (2006).
Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators: central role of the brain. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 8(4), 367–381.
6. Ostroumova, O. D., & Kochetkov, A. I. (2018). Worksite hypertension as a model of stress-induced arterial hypertension. Terapevticheskii arkhiv, 90(9), 123–132.
7. Strizhakov, L. A., Babanov, S. A., Lebedeva, M. V., Moiseev, S. V., & Fomin, V. V. (2018). Arterial hypertension at the workplace: risk factors and the population value. Terapevticheskii archiv, 90(9), 138–143.
8. Antonov, E. V., Markel', A. L., & Yakobson, G. S. (2011). Aldosterone and stress-dependent arterial hypertension. Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine, 152(2), 188–191.
9. Akagi, S., Matsubara, H., Nakamura, K., & Ito, H. (2018). Modern treatment to reduce pulmonary arterial pressure in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Journal of cardiology, 72(6), 466–472.
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