Can panic attack cause high blood pressure

Do Panic Attacks Affect Blood Pressure?

Panic attacks are the notorious physical anxiety events that in many ways mimic heart attacks. They strain your body, cause lightheadedness and difficulty breathing, and increase your heart rate to cause palpitation. This causes many people to worry about their blood pressure, and whether or not they need to be concerned about their blood pressure during a panic attack.

Living With Panic Attack Health Fears

Panic attacks involve so many physical symptoms that health fears are incredibly common. It can even create health anxiety. That's why it's so important to get your panic attacks under control.

Your blood pressure does increase when you have anxiety. Two different issues lead to the development of high blood pressure during an attack:

Adrenaline, which causes your heart to speed blood around your body.
Hyperventilation, which causes your blood vessels to constrict.

Both of these lead to tremendous pressure, and in some cases the appearance of severe hypertension. Those that go through panic attacks, they tend to experience fear over whether or not these attacks indicate that they are putting strain on their heart that could be deadly.

Can Panic Attacks Kill You?

Panic attacks, in a general sense, cannot kill you. There is nearly no scenario in which a panic attack can kill you, because panic attacks are not caused by physical problems, nor do they create any lasting physical damage.

For those in good health – especially those in good heart health – that means that in nearly every scenario imaginable you will survive each and every panic attack you may experience. It is conceivable that there is some incredibly rare issue that causes a complication, but as of yet, there is no known way that someone healthy will die from a panic attack unless that panic attack causes them to engage in some dangerous behavior.

However, panic attacks do increase blood pressure. Those that do not have good heart health are putting strain on their heart when they have high blood pressure spikes. But the reality is that even then it's extremely unlikely that panic attacks will lead to any health problems:

Most heart disease can be found with a simple doctor's appointment. If the heart disease is not present, or you are young with no history of heart disease, you have nothing to worry about.
If you do have heart disease, you should try to control your panic attacks as best you can, but note that even with heart disease a problem from panic attacks is very rare. When a high spike in blood pressure causes heart problems, it is usually not related to something like a racing heartbeat from anxiety.

Your body is designed to handle increases in blood pressure. Whenever you go for a run, for example, your blood pressure experiences a significant spike. Yet runners, of course, are in good health, and few people expect runners to experience heart attacks. The reality is that spikes in blood pressure at all ages and with all types of heart health are normal, and your body is designed to handle them.

Every day you go through these types of spikes regardless of your anxiety and every day you turn out fine. Your heart rate will always go back to your baseline, and your baseline is what's important for determining blood pressure and heart health.

The Importance Of Controlling Stress and Anxiety

Now, the caveat to all of this is that stress – especially long-term stress – does damage your body. Frequent panic attacks are unhealthy, especially if you do suffer from any disease, like heart disease, which is exacerbated by stress.

So while anxiety and panic attacks can lead to large temporary spikes in blood pressure, that isn't the concern. The concern is that living with anxiety is difficult, and living with stress in the long term is unhealthy. That's why it's important to make sure you take action to control your anxiety.

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Can anxiety cause high blood pressure?

Anxiety and high blood pressure can be symptoms of each other. Anxiety may lead to high blood pressure, and high blood pressure can 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 may 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.

It occurs when the body releases stress hormones. These hormones trigger an increase in heart rate and a narrowing of the blood vessels. Both of these changes can cause a person’s 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 may cause increased fat deposits, particularly around the abdomen. Anxiety can also prompt behavior changes in people, 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), which people use to treat anxiety disorders, can increase blood pressure.

Anxiety is a response to stress. Stress causes the release of hormones, such as epinephrine and cortisol. These hormones induce the “fight-or-flight” response, which prepares the body to flee or confront the perceived threat.

Fight-or-flight hormones can cause a person to experience an increase in:

heart rate
blood pressure
muscular strength

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
depression
lack of sleep
fatigue
inability to make decisions
memory issues
increase in fats in the blood

Having high blood pressure may trigger feelings of anxiety in some people. A person 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.

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 a doctor check their blood pressure regularly.

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.

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 help 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, a person learns 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 regularly
practicing mindfulness
eating a balanced diet
avoiding alcohol and drugs
getting consistent, high-quality sleep
learning a new skill
trying to reduce negative thoughts, countering them with positive ones
setting goals and rewards
creating or maintaining 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 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 that is rich in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains
exercising regularly
quitting smoking, if appropriate
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.

People 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 can 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.

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 high blood pressure. Treatment for one condition can often improve the other.

A person who suspects they have one or both conditions should see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Panic attacks. Whom to contact and how a neurologist can help?

Over the past 2 years, much has changed in the life of all mankind. We have to adapt to new, sometimes very difficult, conditions. From TV and the Internet, we are constantly pressed with disturbing news and not the best forecasts, or the unknown in the future.

Someone copes with this easily and is ready for change, while someone falls into a state of panic and cannot do anything about it. The normal reaction of people when faced with the difficulties of life is to try to understand what is happening and what to do with it next.

Our body is a mirror of our mental state and reflects these problems in the form of symptoms that are difficult to distinguish from serious diseases of organic origin.

On one not the best day, a person is faced with a new condition for himself and begins to suspect that has covered him with a panic attack . Let's figure out what it is, how to survive this state and not go crazy (despite the fact that before that you clearly controlled everything in life) and what strategy to develop in order to emerge victorious from this situation.

Panic attack (panic) is a short-term episode of intense anxiety with a sudden onset, reaching a maximum within a few minutes, accompanied by anxiety or fear of death, loss of control, combined with severe disturbances in the work of the heart, respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract.

If this condition begins to recur (with the symptoms may vary slightly), then doctors are already talking about panic disorder or episodic paroxysmal anxiety . Unfortunately, the patient quickly develops a fear of waiting for an attack.

Signs of a panic attack

Heart . The characteristic onset of an attack is accompanied by symptoms from the cardiovascular system - with a sudden onset of a "strong heartbeat", a feeling of "interruptions", "stop", discomfort or pain in the region of the heart.
Pressure . Most panic attacks are accompanied by a rise in blood pressure, the numbers of which can be quite high.
Choking . The most pronounced violations in the respiratory system: shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air with shortness of breath and hyperventilation, "a feeling of suffocation." Describing an attack, patients report that they “caught their throat”, “the air stopped flowing”, “it became stuffy”.
Indigestion . Gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, vomiting, belching, epigastric discomfort, feeling of fullness or abdominal pain may also be observed. As a rule, at the time of a panic attack, dizziness, sweating, tremor with a feeling of chills, “waves” of heat and cold, paresthesia, coldness of the hands and feet are observed.
Appearance . Changes in complexion, pulse rate, fluctuations in blood pressure are objectively determined, and dissociation is often found between the subjective experience of autonomic disorders by patients and their severity during an objective examination.

The disease can develop slowly, over months or years, or it can develop quickly, over days or weeks.

As panic attacks continue, they can be associated with various life circumstances, which become, as it were, conditioned stimuli. Attacks can be repeated in similar situations in which the attack occurred for the first time (metro, transport, loneliness), fear is formed in anticipation of an attack.

How can you help yourself with a panic attack?

Analyze the situation . If you have the above symptoms, you must first determine whether this is a panic attack as a one-time occurrence against the background of stress (illness) or there is a fixation of panic and you will clearly need medical help.
Focus on your breath . Remember that the first first aid is to go out into the air, deeply and consciously begin to breathe. If there is no way to walk, then just lie down, take a comfortable position, breathe deeply and slowly.
Don't be alone . Do not hesitate to ask for help from those who are nearby, do not hide your condition. Discuss what happened. Don't be alone with the problem!
Make an appointment with a doctor . If the episodes recur, a doctor can help resolve the problem. Before taking, think about the circumstances under which seizures occur. These can be:

viewing disturbing news;
conversation with a friend, quarrel with relatives;
situation at work with colleagues;
study exam;
watching movies;
a trip in public transport, in an elevator, etc.).

Panic attack treatment by a neurologist

Many people ask the question: how and how can a neurologist help me? It's forever. Nothing like this! It is a myth. Panic attacks are very well treated. If you think about it, it's time to contact a neurologist and strictly follow his recommendations.

The doctor will examine you,
will conduct tests,
listens carefully, asks specific questions,
will match the symptoms and facts of your life,
will prescribe a basic treatment that will immediately start working.
If necessary, will prescribe additional examinations.

The doctor will tell you how to act in your individual situation!

If at the appointment he reveals violations of the cardiovascular system that are clearly permanent in nature, he will refer you to a cardiologist, for an ECG, for monitoring heart rate (Holter). This is necessary to determine if there is a pathology of the heart and whether it is necessary to take control of the heart rhythm and heart rate with medication.
If the doctor suspects panic attacks on the background of hypertension (high blood pressure), then he will refer to ABPM and pressure adjustment.
If he reveals a permanent psycho-traumatic situation (as the cause of the development of panic attacks), which can be removed with the help of psychotherapeutic techniques, he will give a referral to a psychotherapist.
If the leading symptom is a violation of the gastrointestinal tract, then together with a gastroenterologist, he will remove unpleasant symptoms, find out what hidden chronic disorders the patient has (they are the most pronounced during a panic attack).

At the follow-up appointment, the neurologist, as the treating doctor of a patient with panic attacks, will analyze all the research results, adjust the treatment, dosages of drugs, help the patient develop a behavior strategy and form an adaptive thinking pattern. After a short time, you will forget about panic attacks.

I wish you a speedy recovery and a happy life of a healthy and panic free person. Come!

Increased pressure during panic attacks: what to do and how to bring down

When a panic attack occurs, people experience different symptoms. Among them are mental and physiological. The emergence of anxiety and uncontrollable fear, fear for one's life, loss of awareness are attributed to the first. Changes in temperature, dizziness, nausea, breathing problems, pressure surges and an acceleration of the heartbeat are among the second. Whether blood pressure rises during panic attacks, what characterizes such jumps, and how to lower blood pressure if necessary - we will tell in this article.

An increase in pressure during panic attacks is considered a temporary and transient physiological change provoked by stress. The human body, sensing a threat to life, mobilizes all resources so that, if necessary, you can quickly react and escape. The heart works at its maximum capacity, the brain is supplied with oxygen in greater quantities, and the hormone adrenaline is released into the bloodstream. The pressure during panic attacks rises to certain levels, but such changes are not harmful to health or a strong change in well-being.

Many victims are afraid of a heart attack at the moment of panic, although experts have proven that an attack of uncontrollable fear does not lead to a hypertensive crisis. Despite the fact that some compare the experienced symptoms with the harbingers of the initial stage of this unpleasant condition, doctors say the opposite.

Which blood pressure is high and which is low? The norm is the position of the upper indicator, indicating 120, and the lower one in position 80, but for each individual person they can be individual. For example, hypotensive patients have low blood pressure under normal and familiar conditions, therefore, with indicators that are considered standard, they may feel bad. Such people perceive the increase in pressure as unpleasant sensations and symptoms of diseases.

If the pressure rises during panic attacks, then its indicators may well reach the level of 130 or 145 on the upper bar. Such a phenomenon does not become a prerequisite for a hypertensive crisis, in which case blood pressure goes off scale, reaching 200-220/240. Having a little understanding of the indicators, you will understand that panic attacks do not provoke hypertension, and it is difficult to confuse them with a crisis.

Remember that panic is primarily characterized by a loss of awareness and an inability to think rationally, so the brain gets an idea of the threat to life and projects it onto the smallest changes in well-being. Illusory danger seems real, and slight physiological changes are perceived as terrible harbingers of possible death.

How can I get my blood pressure back to normal after a panic attack?

Panic attacks that occur on a one-time basis are not harmful to health, but when completed, leave the person in a broken and devastated state. Some of the symptoms that appear during panic recommend stopping as soon as possible so as not to overload the body. Is high blood pressure dangerous in and of itself? No, but regular jumps are undesirable, so frequent attacks should be treated with the help of a specialist, because sooner or later they can provoke a mental disorder.

What should I do to normalize my blood pressure? There are a few simple techniques that can help bring your heart rate and blood pressure back to normal, stabilize your circulation, and calm your palpitations.

Experts recommend taking a comfortable static position if you have the conditions for this. If the panic happened in a public place, try to find a secluded corner with the least concentration of people. Try to surround yourself with comfort: sit on a bench or lean against a wall. If you have a bag handy, try breathing into it. Thus, you will cope with the problem of downed breathing and normalize gas exchange in the body. Exhale deeply into the bag several times and then inhale from it. This will help to exhaust the lack of carbon dioxide in the blood, and also partly normalizes the pulse.

Close your eyes and try to relax. You can use a small auto-training, pronouncing how certain parts of the body relax. A small massage of the eyeballs, carried out with a light counterclockwise pressure with your fingers, will help. Try also to put pressure on the temples, put pressure on them for a few seconds and release. Repeat these steps 10 times, alternating exercises with eye massage.

Don't be afraid to accept help if someone else offers it. Since it is difficult to take control of your feelings and emotions during a panic attack, another person can assist in this or act as a reliable support.

Blood pressure usually returns to normal quickly, and 10 minutes after the panic attack ends, you may feel quite comfortable. Remember that unlike hypertensive attacks, during which the use of medications that stabilize blood pressure is recommended, drugs that lower blood pressure should not be used during a panic attack.

Prevention of panic attacks

Often the first appearance of a panic attack and its repetition form a reflex expectation of the next attacks. The rise in pressure indicates that there are some disturbances in the body. To understand the degree of changes that occur during a panic, to realize whether a reading of 180 is a lot or a little, it is worth taking a blood pressure measurement in a calm and agitated state so that you have something to compare sensations and data with.

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