Tips For Coping With Depression
- Get dressed every day.
- Practice stress management and relaxation techniques.
- Get out and walk daily.
- Follow your prescribed exercise regimen.
- Ask your health care provider about a cardiac rehabilitation program.
- Resume hobbies and social activities you enjoy.
- During your recovery from surgery or a recent hospitalization, visits with friends should be limited to 15 minutes at first. Then, increase the amount of time spent with visitors, depending on how you feel.
- Get a good nights sleep.
- Eat well-balanced, nutritious meals and follow your prescribed dietary guidelines.
- Ask your health care provider about support groups that may help you cope. Support groups are available for patients who have had heart surgery and their families.
- Dont use harmful habits to cope, such as smoking, using drugs, drinking excessively or overeating. These harmful habits increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
S To Lowering Your Blood Pressure
The first line of treatment for high blood pressure is to make healthy lifestyle changes:
Its also important to take any antihypertensive medications your doctor recommends. There are many different types of medications available to control high blood pressure, so if one drug causes unpleasant side effects, your doctor can help you find a more suitable one.
Even if your doctor also prescribes you medication to help tackle hypertension, controlling your weight, quitting smoking, improving your diet, managing stress, and getting regular exercise are critical for keeping your heart in shape and managing your blood pressure over the long term.
If youve just been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or have suffered a serious health event such as a stroke or heart attack, you may be experiencing a great deal of emotional upheaval. Its important to give yourself time to process the change in your health and be kind to yourself as you adjust to your new situation. But its also important to know there are plenty of things you can do to come to terms with your diagnosis and regain control of your health.
Early Diagnosis And Treatment Is Vital
The force of high blood pressure damages the lining of the arteries, which allows bad low-density lipoprotein cholesterol plaques to set up camp, potentially blocking blood flow and causing a heart attack or stroke. The more plaque and damage, the narrower the insides of the arteries.
You cant feel high blood pressureso the only way to know you have it is to get tested. This information will give you a running start against the consequences of uncontrolled high blood pressure.
We need to be hyper-vigilant about high blood pressure because its a silent killer, says Mike Farbaniec, a cardiologist at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Make sure you see your doctor when you are in your 30s to 50s. If you hit prevention hard then, you are less likely to be sick in your 60s and 70s.
Also Check: How Can You Relieve Stress
Also Check: Spicy Food High Blood Pressure
Incorporate Other Healthy Lifestyle Changes One At A Time
Dont try to fix everything at once. Thats especially true if one of the habits you want to break is smoking.
Quitting smoking can be difficult. If you smoke, talk with your health care professional to determine if you need medications or other help to quit. Therapies may include nicotine replacement or prescription medicines. You could also ask for a referral for a smoking cessation program.
Ultimately, you have to take care of yourself to break the cycle of feeling down. That could be doing something structured, such as a yoga class or tai chi practice, or something you can do anywhere, such as meditating, listening to music or reading a book.
Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff.
How To Treat High Blood Pressure
Lifestyle changes can benefit people with long term high blood pressure.
Your doctor should recommend a few of these:
- Eat healthily. Reduce salt
- Increased heart rate
High blood pressure is treatable. Anxiety is treatable. Not everyone with anxiety develops hypertension.
However, its best to seek help earlier to reduce the chances of complications from both conditions.
Don’t Miss: Does Hot Sauce Cause High Blood Pressure
Effect Of Combined Anxiety And Depression On Hypertension Or Hypotension
Logistic regression analyses confirmed the results from the linear regression analyses. We found that a high symptom level of combined anxiety/depression at all three measurements, compared to a lower symptom level, was associated with reduced odds for blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg at year 22 and, conversely, with higher odds for blood pressure < 120/75 mm Hg . Thus, the probability for development of hypertension among individuals with a high symptom level of anxiety/depression at all three examinations was 20% lower compared to those with a lower symptom level.
Avon Longitudinal Study Of Parents And Children
Maternal history of recurrent depression: Mothers completed regular questionnaires from pregnancy to when the child was aged 12years including the questions Have you had depression in the last year/last two years/since your child was born/ever?. The mother was also asked Have you ever had severe depression? on three occasions over this time period. Research diagnostic interview generated psychiatric data on parents are not available in ALSPAC. Recurrent depression in the replication data set thus had to be defined where mother had reported having depression on at least two separate occasions, and if at least one of these occasions was reported as being severe. These criteria were used to create a subsample that was as similar as possible to the primary high-risk sample.
Blood pressure: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured at the clinic assessments when the target ages of the children were 12 and 15years. Blood pressure was measured twice at each assessment with a Dinamap 9301 Vital Signs Monitor and a mean of both readings was taken.
Demographics: The mother and father questionnaires completed during pregnancy were used to assess maternal education and highest parental social class. Maternal education was categorised according to whether the mother had completed higher education . Parental social class was categorised according to whether either parent reported having a non-manual occupation.
Read Also: Do Onions Lower Blood Pressure
Can High Blood Pressure Cause Anxiety
Having high blood pressure can trigger feelings of anxiety in some people. Those whom doctors diagnose with hypertension may worry about their health and their future.
Sometimes, the symptoms of hypertension, which include headaches, blurred vision, and shortness of breath, can be enough to cause panic or anxiety.
Depression And High Blood Pressure
Can depression and anxiety help cause hypertension?
You don’t need to measure your blood pressure to know that a heated argument or a walk down a dark alley can send that pressure soaring. Your pounding heart and flushed face say it all. Stress can temporarily boost blood pressure: For instance, some people have short-term hikes in blood pressure when they visit a doctor’s office. Fortunately, these spikes in pressure are usually too fleeting to threaten your health. But when emotional turmoil becomes a way of life, your blood pressure can take a dangerous, long-term climb. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide evidence that depression and severe anxiety may increase a person’s risks for developing hypertension.
Since then, other investigations have found connections between hypertension and psychological distress. British researchers reported that patients with hypertension were particularly likely to have a history of panic attacks, or sudden feelings of terror that strike repeatedly and unexpectedly. And a study by New York Presbyterian Hospital showed that psychological trauma, whether recent or in the past, can lead to chronic episodes of surging blood pressure accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain, nausea, and shortness of breath.
How can mood affect blood pressure?
Can treatment for depression help prevent hypertension?
Further Resources
References
Image credit: Shutterstock
You May Like: Vodka Blood Pressure
Is It Anxiety Or A Blood Pressure Change
Identifying the difference between the symptoms of anxiety and blood pressure change can be challenging.
However, keep in mind that hypertension shows no symptoms .
Only low blood pressure is likely to show symptoms, which are usually the same as symptoms of anxiety.
You should see your doctor if symptoms persist.
Your doctor can diagnose the real cause of these symptoms and proffer a solution to your anxiety.
Dont Miss: What Helps With Anxiety And Stress
Hypertension And Your Mental Health
You may not think of mental health disorders when you think about high blood pressure, but a connection exists. If you have hypertension, youre more likely to experience mood issues, such as anxiety and depression than those with normal blood pressure.
Hypertension is a manageable condition. There are ways to control your blood pressure with lifestyle changes and/or medication. Adhering to an effective hypertension treatment plan can get your blood pressure under control and improve your mental health. Heres what our physicians at Westmed Family Healthcare want you to know about hypertension and your mental health.
Also Check: How To Calibrate Blood Pressure Monitor Omron
Getting Your Blood Pressure Checked And Under Control
There is no harm in a person monitoring his or her blood pressure. Some people have naturally low blood pressure, and some, naturally high blood pressure. A doctor can provide a person more information regarding his or her blood pressure and what is considered normal based on health history, diet, age, etc.
If a person is informed his or her blood pressure is nothing to worry about, then it is likely anxiety related. Trying to learn healthy ways to breath can be hugely helpful in these cases. Focusing on taking slow breaths, and not trying to over-compensate for poor breathing are good places to start. Going for a walk can help as well because it can take ones mind off of whatever difficult symptoms a person is experiencing, and get his or her blood flowing.
Summary:
Anxiety can cause low blood pressure through hyperventilation. Some people also find themselves with anxiety after seeing otherwise normal low blood pressure during a random fluctuation. Learning to slow down and control breathing can help, although an anxiety treatment will be more important.
Was this article helpful?
Weight Loss Or Weight Gain
Your mood may impact your diet. For some, depression causes a loss of appetite that could lead to unnecessary weight loss.
For others with depression, feelings of hopelessness may result in poor eating choices and a loss of interest in exercise. Reaching for foods high in sugars, fats, and starchy carbohydrates is also common. Increased appetite and weight gain are also side effects of some medications for depression.
Obesity also seems to be common in people with depression, according to an older survey by the . The survey, conducted between 2005 and 2010, found that approximately 43 percent of adults with depression are obese.
You May Like: Do Onions Lower Blood Pressure
Follow Cnn Health On Facebook And Twitter
Goldberg also pointed out that the study observed patients older than age 40, which means it is unlikely that many, or any, were pregnant. You cant extrapolate this information to pregnant women, who would be younger.
The researchers at the University of Glasgow now plan to investigate this further, to help understand the links in all subsets of the population.
If there is an effect, we should do something about it, Padmanabhan said. Understanding more about drugs and mental health will help us tailor the right medicines to the right patients.
The British Heart Foundation , who helped fund the research, agreed.
There may have been other factors influencing the outcomes therefore further study in this area is warranted, said June Davison, a senior cardiac nurse at BHF. Its important that health professionals are aware of the possible impact that high blood pressure medication can have on someones mental health. If you are on blood pressure medication and concerned about your mood, have a chat with your GP.
Continuous Stress And Blood Pressure
As a primary care physician, I am definitely seeing people dealing with uncontrolled hypertension related to the effects of COVID-19, Dr. Flowers explains what shes seen in her practice. First of all, there is a natural rise in our fear of the unknown, which leads to more people being anxious or nervous. Secondly, people have had to deal with the rapid deaths of family members, friends, coworkers, and associates due to the pandemic, and this also creates anxiety and depression.
There is widespread uncertainty about what the future holds, along with major stressors such as financial instability, social isolation, and restrictions on daily activities, which have all contributed to a rise in hypertension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Flowers says.
Its also worth noting that its possible the pandemic is causing new high blood pressure spikes in patients without a pre-existing hypertension diagnosis.
The global pandemic has caused major changes in peoples lives both from a social and economic standpoints, explains Paris Sabo, MD, a breast cancer surgeon in Beverly Hills and co-founder of Dr. Brite. These are major causes of stress and anxiety. Even though these feelings are not the cause of chronic high blood pressure, they can cause temporary spikes in blood pressure, even in healthy people.
Don’t Miss: Onions And Blood Pressure
The Associations Of Depression And Hypertension With Brain Volumes: Independent Or Interactive
We tested for main and interaction effects of MDD and hypertension on brain volumes.
-
Voxel based morphometry was used to test effects on gray and white matter volumes.
-
Both whole brain and region of interest analyses were performed.
-
The combination of MDD and hypertension has unique effects on regional brain volumes.
-
Brain volume may be a link in the comorbidity between hypertension and MDD.
Lack Of Physical Activity
A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to several health issues, including high blood pressure.
According to the AHA, physical activity can help a person lower their blood pressure. It can also improve their heart health and reduce their weight.
The AHA recommend 150 minutes a week of moderate-to-intense physical activity, such as walking briskly, running, or bicycling.
Also Check: Does Cholesterol Raise Blood Pressure
Can Lack Of Sleep Cause High Blood Pressure
When most people think about high blood pressure, they might have the image of a poor, high salt diet and lack of exercise. And if thats what you were thinking might be behind your high blood pressure, theres a chance that youre right.
Smoking, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, excess sodium, and other factors, including chronic kidney disease and genetics also make you more susceptible to hypertension. But one thing that often gets ignored? Lack of sleep.
Sleep regulates hormones like cortisolwhen people are chronically sleep deprived, the nervous system isnt able to regulate these hormones which can lead to elevated blood pressure.
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona last year found that even just one or a few poor nights of sleep could cause a sudden spike in blood pressure. The 300 men and women who participated did not have any known heart conditions and were monitored through the night. There was a positive correlation between sleeping less and higher blood pressure spikes during the night, building on other evidence just how important sleep is for our heart health.
A Longitudinal Study In Great Britain
The researchers investigated these relationships with the help of the longitudinal study “English Longitudinal Study of Ageing”, in which more than 18,000 people in Great Britain participated over a period of 12 years. For the present results, they analyzed the data of more than 7,000 people over the age of 50 who had not yet suffered a heart attack, stroke, or dementia. They considered high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol levels as risk factors.
Every two years, they recorded the extent of depressive mood and calculated the course of depressive symptoms as a function of risk factors and age. For this purpose, they used growth models in which they calculated the development of individual persons over the years. Finally, this resulted in an individual curve for each person, whose different courses could be explained by adding or removing risk factors. The influence of gender and education was removed accordingly.
Read Also: Do Onions Lower Blood Pressure
Job Stress Poor Sleep Hypertension A Deadly Trio
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, April 29, 2019 Job stress, high blood pressure and poor sleep may be a recipe for an early death, German researchers report.
In a study of nearly 2,000 workers with high blood pressure who were followed for almost 18 years, those who reported having both a stressful job and poor sleep were three times more likely to die from heart disease than those who slept well and didnt have a trying job, the investigators found.
As many as 50% of adults have high blood pressure, said Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Its a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and premature cardiovascular death, said Fonarow, who had no role in the new study.
A number of studies have found associations between greater work stress and subsequent risk of cardiovascular events. Impairment in sleep has also been associated with increased risk, he said. However, these associations did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
In the new study, the researchers reported that among people with high blood pressure , those who had work stress alone had a twofold higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, as did those who reported having poor sleep alone.
Unfortunately, poor sleep and job stress often go hand in hand, and when combined with hypertension, the effect is even more toxic, he added in a statement.
Continued
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
Pagination