Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnxiety and High Blood PressureComplicationsDiagnosisTreatment

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Table of Contents

Anxiety and High Blood Pressure

Complications

Diagnosis

Treatment

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Anxiety is a natural response to stress or perceived danger and is often associated with fear and worry. If you’re feeling anxious, you may experiencephysical symptoms, such as sweating, shaking, nausea, or muscle tenseness. These symptoms may become excessive or persistent if you have ageneralized anxiety disorder(GAD), and may affect blood pressure, just as chronic high blood pressure or hypertension may in some circumstances cause feelings of anxiety.

The Connection Between Anxiety Disorder and High Blood Pressure

When you’re faced with a stressful situation—a public speaking engagement, an unexpected call, a panicked crowd, or even a high-pressure work environment—yourfight-or-flight responsecan 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.—MICHAEL WHEATON, PHD

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.

—MICHAEL WHEATON, PHD

The relationship between anxiety and hypertension is complex. Although anxiety can lead to short-term increases in blood pressure, it can, but generally doesn’t increase the risk for essential hypertension.

Hypertension is often asymptomatic, although sometime significantly elevated blood pressure can result in physical symptoms related to anxiety. Having a chronic health condition such as hypertension can increase your risk for an anxiety disorder. In addition, certain unhealthy lifestyle behaviors can contribute to both conditions.

Physical Symptoms Associated with Stress

Complications of Anxiety and High Blood Pressure

Unmanaged stress or anxiety can have a negative effect on your cognitive functioning, your immune system, gastrointestinal (GI) system, and your cardiovascular system.Unfortunately, some people use unhealthycoping mechanismsto deal with their chronic stress or anxiety and engage in the following behaviors:

These can have a negative impact on overall health and well-being and can contribute to hypertension, poor heart health, and severe health complications.

When to See a DoctorIf you’re experiencing severe headaches, vision problems, chest pain, confusion, shortness of breath, trouble concentrating, fatigue, changes in sleep or diet, or irritability, contact your doctor for a thorough assessment. These could reflect anxiety or a cardiovascular condition such as high blood pressure.

When to See a Doctor

If you’re experiencing severe headaches, vision problems, chest pain, confusion, shortness of breath, trouble concentrating, fatigue, changes in sleep or diet, or irritability, contact your doctor for a thorough assessment. These could reflect anxiety or a cardiovascular condition such as high blood pressure.

Diagnosis of Anxiety and High Blood Pressure

Often the best thing you can do is look at the underlying causes of your stress and anxiety to best manage them. Questions to ask yourself:

What Is Rumination?

Treatment of Anxiety and High Blood Pressure

If you want to address your anxiety and blood pressure, some practitioners offer a treatment that involvesbiofeedback, in which physiological monitoring of your bodily arousal is made observable to you so that you can learn to be aware of physical changes that might occur with anxiety and elevated blood pressure. “The idea is that with practice, you could learn to control your bodily response, easing tension and slowing your heart rate down to enter a more relaxed state," Dr. Wheaton says.

Psychotherapy and certain medications are the mainstay of management for anxiety disorders. Antihypertensive medications may be required to manage high blood pressure. In addition to biofeedback, other mind-body approaches such as mindfulness, yoga, breathing techniques and exercise may be a helpful adjunct for both anxiety and hypertension.

How to Manage Your Anxiety

If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure or an anxiety disorder, look for ways to better manage the stress in your life. This may require adjustments to your behavior, lifestyle, or work/life obligations. Do what you can to minimize stress and anxiety. If you can’t or ifstress management techniquesaren’t working, let your doctor know.

“Meeting with a treatment provider could be helpful to differentiate anxiety-related bodily arousal (which typically involves temporary benign increases in blood pressure) and more serious medical concerns such as hypertension,” Dr. Wheaton says.

If you or a loved one are struggling with stress, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with stress, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Stress is inevitable, but it shouldn’t be a part of your every day. If you have hypertension or if you’re feeling stressed on a regular basis, it’s time to slow down, evaluate your behaviors, habits, and stressors, and make some necessary changes so you can better care for your overall health and well-being. Know that there are tools, resources, and services out there to help you manage high levels of stress and anxiety.

Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure?

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: A review.EXCLI J. 2017;16:1057-1072.Mai, A. S., Lim, O. Z. H., Ho, Y. J., Kong, G., Lim, G. E. H., Ng, C. H., Ho, C., Ho, R., Lim, Y., Kuntjoro, I., Tay, E., Yip, J., Chew, N. W. S., & Low, T.-T. (2022).Prevalence, risk factors and intervention for depression and anxiety in pulmonary hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in Medicine,9, 765461. doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.765461van Oort, S., Beulens, J. W. J., van Ballegooijen, A. J., Grobbee, D. E., & Larsson, S. C. (2020).Association of cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle behaviors with hypertension.Hypertension,76(6), 1971–1979. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15761

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: A review.EXCLI J. 2017;16:1057-1072.Mai, A. S., Lim, O. Z. H., Ho, Y. J., Kong, G., Lim, G. E. H., Ng, C. H., Ho, C., Ho, R., Lim, Y., Kuntjoro, I., Tay, E., Yip, J., Chew, N. W. S., & Low, T.-T. (2022).Prevalence, risk factors and intervention for depression and anxiety in pulmonary hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in Medicine,9, 765461. doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.765461van Oort, S., Beulens, J. W. J., van Ballegooijen, A. J., Grobbee, D. E., & Larsson, S. C. (2020).Association of cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle behaviors with hypertension.Hypertension,76(6), 1971–1979. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15761

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: A review.EXCLI J. 2017;16:1057-1072.Mai, A. S., Lim, O. Z. H., Ho, Y. J., Kong, G., Lim, G. E. H., Ng, C. H., Ho, C., Ho, R., Lim, Y., Kuntjoro, I., Tay, E., Yip, J., Chew, N. W. S., & Low, T.-T. (2022).Prevalence, risk factors and intervention for depression and anxiety in pulmonary hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in Medicine,9, 765461. doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.765461van Oort, S., Beulens, J. W. J., van Ballegooijen, A. J., Grobbee, D. E., & Larsson, S. C. (2020).Association of cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle behaviors with hypertension.Hypertension,76(6), 1971–1979. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15761

Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: A review.EXCLI J. 2017;16:1057-1072.

Mai, A. S., Lim, O. Z. H., Ho, Y. J., Kong, G., Lim, G. E. H., Ng, C. H., Ho, C., Ho, R., Lim, Y., Kuntjoro, I., Tay, E., Yip, J., Chew, N. W. S., & Low, T.-T. (2022).Prevalence, risk factors and intervention for depression and anxiety in pulmonary hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in Medicine,9, 765461. doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.765461

van Oort, S., Beulens, J. W. J., van Ballegooijen, A. J., Grobbee, D. E., & Larsson, S. C. (2020).Association of cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle behaviors with hypertension.Hypertension,76(6), 1971–1979. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15761

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