There has been a great deal of speculation over the years about whether a link between high blood pressure and anxiety exists. It is widely accepted that moments of anxiety are entirely capable of temporarily raising blood pressure, but it is less clear as to whether there is a more permanent link between sustained high blood pressure and anxiety levels in the individual. Still, there are a few things to keep in mind.
When a person is feeling very anxious, nervous, or is otherwise upset, the body’s blood pressure rises as a natural response that is part of what is known as the, “fight or flight,” mechanism. In pre-civilization days, this trait developed so that when our ancestors were in dangerous situations, such as a confrontation with a beast of some sort, they would have the energy and stamina necessary to either stand their ground or run away, whichever the situation demanded.
While for many of us, this sort of reaction is not nearly as necessary as it once was, it is still part of how are bodies react to stress. This is why when the doctor takes your blood pressure in the examination room, you are not immediately diagnosed with hypertension from the one reading, as can be possible with other conditions, such as diabetes. Doctors know that many patients are very nervous in the examination room, leading to what is known as, “white coat syndrome,” or a temporary state of hypertension. This clearly demonstrates a link between temporary high blood pressure and anxiety, and is the reason why no diagnosis is made until readings are taken on several different days. This makes it important to learn how to take blood pressure at home, so that you can be sure that your readings are accurate. The Omron automatic blood pressure monitor with intellisense model hem 711ac is a popular choice for a home blood pressure monitor.
As to whether sustained high blood pressure and anxiety are directly related in any sort of causal manner, the data are a little less clear. Even though a period of anxiety will result in a temporary rise in blood pressure, it can still cause all the damage and complications that are normally associated with prolonged hypertension. Even though each episode may be very short, the damage done is cumulative and builds over time.
It is important for this reason that hypertension caused by anxiety needs to be controlled every bit as much as the more chronic variety that we are already aware of. Whether you use natural remedies for high blood pressure, meditation, breathing exercises, or other methods, keeping your blood pressure under control is one of the best things you can possibly do for your continued good health.
