The Connection Between Anxiety Disorder And High Blood Pressure
When youre faced with a stressful situationa public speaking engagement, an unexpected call, a panicked crowd, or even a high-pressure work environmentyour fight-or-flight response can be triggered.
According to Michael Wheaton, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Barnard College, this may cause your heart rate to speed up, your body to sweat, and your blood pressure to rise temporarily.
“Your body is increasing your heart rate and physiological arousal to be able to manage a potentially dangerous situation, and as a natural consequence, your blood pressure increases during this time,” says Wheaton. “Typically, your blood pressure returns to the normal range as the anxiety passes.”
If you have an anxiety disorder, these spikes can occur more frequently and lead to various physical symptoms, such as irritability, muscle tension, fatigue, and/or difficulty sleeping, as well as high blood pressure.
Your body is increasing your heart rate and physiological arousal to be able to manage a potentially dangerous situation, and as a natural consequence your blood pressure increases during this time. Typically your blood pressure returns to the normal range as the anxiety passes.
Those with hypertension are also more likely to have or develop an anxiety disorder, depression, and other mental health conditionsand studies have shown that 37.1% of patients with pulmonary hypertension experience anxiety.
Things You Can Do To Feel Less Anxious
Whether you have an anxiety disorder or not, everyone can benefit from reducing their daily anxiety levels. Here are some changes that you can make in your daily life to lower your anxiety levels:
- Get enough sleep. Sleep is very important for overall health, and getting enough sleep can make a huge difference in daily anxiety levels. Most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, so make sure to aim for this.
- Eat a balanced diet. Eating nutritious foods can help support both your physical and mental well-being. Aim to fill your plate with whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, whenever possible.
- Move your body. Moving your body is important, whether that involves weight training at the gym or taking a walk around the block. Daily exercise and movement can help increase your endorphins and lower stress levels.
- Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of bringing your awareness to the present moment, which is incredibly important when you have anxiety. Meditation is a great mindfulness practice to reduce daily stress and anxiety.
Medications used to treat anxiety can help reduce overall anxiety levels, which can reduce blood pressure spikes. However, some anxiety treatment options may also cause an increase in blood pressure levels.
If dietary and lifestyle changes arent enough to lower your blood pressure naturally, certain may be prescribed, such as:
Can Anxiety Trigger High Blood Pressure
The way your body reacts to anxiety can cause spikes in blood pressure. When youre feeling anxious, your heart rate increases, which can increase your blood pressure.
Your sympathetic nervous system also kicks into gear and releases adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones that are released can make it difficult for the arteries to relax and widen, which causes an increase in blood pressure.
Anxiety doesnt cause long-term high blood pressure but spikes in Blood pressure can occur when youre feeling anxious. But if your anxiety is chronic or severe, it could lead to chronic hypertension or other health problems over time.
High blood pressure can also be hereditary some people might be genetically predisposed to higher levels of stress hormones due to their family history.
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Anxiety Raises Blood Pressure
Blood pressure can be affected by both short-term and long-term anxiety.
It’s well known that acute anxiety can dramatically increase blood pressure levels. The rise happens because of the body’s response to sudden stress, known as the “fight or flight response.”
When we encounter a stressor, our bodies release hormones like cortisol and catecholamines. These hormones prepare our bodies to respond to a threat by diverting blood flow from the abdomen to increase blood flow to the muscles so that we can run away if necessary. As a result, our heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate all go up.
The effects of chronic anxiety on blood pressure are still debated. Studies have shown conflicting evidence of a relationship between anxiety and high blood pressure. However, more recent studies do suggest a possible link between the two conditions.
Literature Search And Study Selection
The studys identified and selected procedures are summarized in Figure 1. Twenty-one studies were finally included in our analysis. Among them, 13 cross-sectional studies11,15,18,20,2937 and eight prospective studies6,1214,17,3840 of the association between anxiety and hypertension were included in the analysis. General characteristics in the published articles included in this meta-analysis are shown in Tables 1 and and2.2. The duration of follow-up ranged from 1 to 25 years for the prospective studies. Stars in Tables 1 and and22 indicate the quality of the study. Among the 13 studies in Table 1, three scored nine stars, five scored eight stars, and five scored seven stars. Among the eight studies in Table 2, one scored nine stars, five scored eight stars, and one scored six stars. The ORs were extracted or calculated from the original articles. Other characteristics, such as age of participants, sample size, and diagnostic criteria for anxiety were also presented in Tables 1 and and22.
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Anxiety Attacks And High Blood Pressure
Long-term high blood pressure is known as hypertension. People with hypertension have elevated blood pressure at all times. Anxiety, though, only causes high blood pressure spikes during acute attacks of anxiety.
While this doesn’t constitute hypertension, anxiety-induced blood pressure increases can damage blood vessels, heart, and kidneys if the blood pressure spikes are frequent enough. If anxiety is causing blood pressure spikes daily, damage is a concern. This is one of the reasons it’s important to seek professional help to keep anxiety symptoms under control.1
It’s also important to remember that frequent anxiety episodes are more likely to cause other unhealthy lifestyle habits such as:
How Does Anxiety Raise Blood Pressure
Stress and anxiety cause the fight-or-flight stress response, a valuable survival tool where your brainsensing dangerreleases a flood of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones activate your sympathetic nervous system, which boosts your blood sugar, increases your heart rate, sends oxygen to your muscles, and causes your blood pressure to spike.
These actions can be useful , but the fight-or-flight response can also occur due to non-threatening situations or worries. If you experience chronic stress and anxiety, the physiological consequences of the fight-or-flight response dont just happen occasionally they could be happening every day. That means frequent blood pressure spikes can be especially problematic if you have other risk factors for hypertension or if you smoke to cope with your anxiety .
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Know What Brings You Pleasure And Find Ways To Enjoy The Experience
Perhaps you enjoy volunteer opportunities or cooking your favorite foods. By taking time not only to participate in these activities but to intentionally enjoy them, you can build a satisfying life rather than hurry through your relaxing activities at a stressful pace.
Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff.
Last Reviewed: Oct 31, 2016
How K Health Can Help
Anxiety is a common condition all around the world. Uncontrolled hypertension is one of the top risk factors for cardiovascular disease mortality and people under 40 are less likely to recognize that they have hypertension.
You dont have to keep wondering if youre at risk.
K Health offers affordable and convenient access to highly qualified doctors to treat and manage high blood pressure, as long as you are not having a hypertensive crisis.
You can meet with your K Health doctor from the comfort of your own home via the K Health app, all while knowing that youre getting individualized and expert care.
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Anxiety Or Calm Can Cause False Blood Pressure Readings
Medical professionals have long known that blood pressure measured in a doctors office may not match your true normal blood pressure. This may be due to one of two conditions that cause false readings, and recent research shows that both call for more consistent and accurate blood pressure monitoring.
When stress and anxiety caused by a clinic or hospital visit lead to higher-than-normal blood pressure readings, the effect is known as white coat hypertension , or white coat syndrome, named for the coats doctors wear. WCH occurs in about one in five people. Its not necessarily a response to being in the presence of a doctor or nurse the anxiety that some people have before and during a medical visit can trigger the syndrome.
The other condition, known as masked hypertension, is the opposite of WCH. Masked hypertension occurs when people normally have high blood pressure but it doesnt show up when measured in the doctors office.
WCH can lead to an incorrect misdiagnosis of high blood pressure and overmedication. It also may indicate that the persons blood pressure tends to rise when he or she has anxiety for other reasons. Masked hypertension, on the other hand, can prevent needed treatment for high blood pressure.
Changes in Guidelines
The researchers also discovered that many adults suffer from masked hypertension.
Home Testing
Muntner says accurate readings are important for getting the correct treatment.
Chronic Stress And Blood Pressure
Researchers dont know as much about the ways chronic stress affects blood pressure, Dr. Laffin notes. But what they do know is that stress can impact your lifestyle habits and increase your risk of health concerns.
Stress can manifest as unhealthy lifestyle habits that can ultimately impact your cardiovascular risk, Dr. Laffin explains. When youre chronically stressed, you may:
- Sleep less or more poorly.
- Not exercise as much.
- Make unhealthy dietary choices.
- Smoke, drink or abuse drugs.
All of these habits can lead to higher blood pressure and increase your risk of stroke or other heart issues.
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The Importance Of Stress Management
In todays fast-paced world filled with increasing demands, stress management is a life skill and a lifesaver. Its also important to note that while the link between stress and high blood pressure is still being studied, stress is known to contribute to risk factors like a poor diet and excessive alcohol consumption.
Understanding High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is when blood pushes against the artery walls at a higher rate than normal. Long term, high blood pressure greatly increases the chance of experiencing a serious cardiac event, such as a heart attack and/or stroke. High blood pressure is one of the most common diseases worldwide and may affect as many as half of the adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Unlike other chronic conditions, high blood pressure doesnt cause noticeable symptoms or warning signs. High blood pressure can only be uncovered through a blood pressure measurement done at your doctors office, a clinic, pharmacy or at home. If you or a loved one are at risk for high blood pressure, learn how to do an at-home blood pressure check. Talk with your physician about how often and when to do these checks.
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Blood Pressure Changes And Anxiety
Anxiety is the activation of your fight or flight system a system designed to keep you safe from harm when no danger is present. The fight or flight system causes a number of physical changes that would help you respond to a predator or threat if one was present, but can be distressing when they occur without that danger.
Different types of anxiety can affect your blood pressure in different ways. To understand how anxiety can impact blood pressure, first you must gain a basic understanding of blood pressure and how it fluctuates.
Finally, it is always important to remember that blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day due to exertion, diet, hydration, and more. Blood pressure is not constant even if you do not have any anxiety. So “high blood pressure” may not be high blood pressure at all, and may instead be a reading during one of these fluctuations.
Can Anxiety Cause Hypertension
Because anxiety can cause symptoms like a pounding heart, many believe that anxiety can result in blood pressure issues like hypertension. While some studies do show a link between anxiety and risk for high blood pressure, many others do not.
A recent study of over 17,000 subjects in Norway found little evidence to support the suggestion that anxiety causes hypertension. In fact, the study demonstrated that the opposite is actually true.
Findings showed that anxiety and depression was actually associated with lowered blood pressure.
So what does this mean?
Anxiety is a form of stress, and stress can cause temporary spikes in blood pressure. This is because your body reacts to stress by increasing your heart rate and blood pressure during a fight-or-flight response, preparing you to face the danger you perceive.
A 2021 study demonstrates that the fewer resources you feel that you have to deal with the stressful situation, the more likely you are to have a greater blood pressure spike. However, its unlikely that these temporary spikes in blood pressure when anxious will directly lead to high blood pressure issues later in life.
Pay attention, instead, to other factors that are proven to put you at risk for hypertension.
These include:
- Diet: Eating a high-carbohydrate low-fat diet increases your risk of developing hypertension.
- Genetics and Family History: A child of hypertensive parents often has a greater risk for developing high blood pressure.
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The Link Between Anxiety And High Blood Pressure
Steven Gans, MD, is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Anxiety and high blood pressure can occur together and even cause each other. High anxiety levels can lead to a spike in blood pressure, and getting a diagnosis of high blood pressure can lead to anxiety. However, some other medical conditions and medications can cause both high blood pressure and anxiety.
Read on to learn more about the link between hypertension and anxiety and the factors contributing to both conditions.
Blood Pressure Medications For Anxiety
“When blood pressure medications are needed in a patient who also has chronic or periodic anxiety, if there is no other contraindication, a beta blocker and some, but not all, calcium channel blockers could be an excellent choice,” says Catherine Collings, MD, a cardiologist and director of lifestyle medicine at El Camino Health in northern California.
Beta blockers block the hormone epinephrine, according to the Mayo Clinic. Epinephrine ââ¬â also known as adrenaline ââ¬â is related to the fight-or-flight response, which can lead to anxiety if that fight-or-flight response stays activated long-term, Mayo Clinic says. Reducing the effects of adrenaline may help reduce anxiety or its intensity.
Beta blockers can be used to help lessen physical anxiety symptoms, like rapid heartbeat or trembling, says the National Institute of Mental Health. Still, the evidence for beta blockers as an anxiety treatment isn’t firm. A February 2016 review in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found insufficient evidence to support the routine use of propranolol to treat anxiety disorders.
Though evidence isn’t strong enough to make these medications standard treatments for anxiety, if you’re being treated for anxiety and high blood pressure, one of them might be a good option.
“It certainly wouldn’t be first-line treatment, but it could be useful in special circumstances, such as if a person couldn’t tolerate more commonly prescribed medications,” Dr. Muskin says.
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Begin Anxiety Treatment In Nashville Tn
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The Connection Between Anxiety And Hypertension
Anxiety is a mental health condition that many people experience, and though it can be difficult to deal with, its not something to be ashamed of. It can produce symptoms that are hard to control, including cardiovascular manifestations like palpitations and an increased heart rate.
However, it can also be managed with things like lifestyle changes, a good support system, talking to a therapist, and medication, if you and your provider feel like thats right for you. If you have chronic anxiety, you may be concerned about whether it can cause high blood pressure or perhaps worsen existing hypertension.
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Find A Safe Anxiety Medication For Hypertension
There are medications that can treat anxiety without negatively impacting your blood pressure. Ask your healthcare provider if hydroxyzine, a beta blocker, SSRI, or benzodiazepine could help your mood, along with your hypertension. Some anti-anxiety medications, like diazepam, might even bring down your blood pressure. Diazepam is a controlled substance, requiring frequent doctor visits and may cause addiction. So, diazepam is only used as a last resort.