Can Stress Cause High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common chronic condition affecting almost half of adults in the United States. Short -term stress directly increases your blood pressure and heart rate. But this effect is temporary, and that does not necessarily mean that you have chronic blood pressure.

Continuous stress may be more likely to directly and indirectly affect your risk of high blood pressure.

Acute (sudden and short) and chronic (long -term) stress hormones that can increase your blood pressure. Certain lifestyle behaviors to deal with stress can also contribute to high blood pressure.

Acute stress

Acute stress activates a stress of stress commonly known as combat or leak response. This scalable response prepares your body to react to a perceived threat.

When you meet a sudden stressor, the body releases epinephrine (adrenaline). This hormone narrows your blood vessels, which increases your blood pressure. You may also notice your increase in heart rate, your heart beating faster and stronger.

This type of stress and its effect on your body and blood pressure tends to disappear once the stress factor has passed.

Chronic stress

Researchers always study the relationship between chronic stress and high blood pressure. In the long term, frequent or chronic stress increases the levels of the cortisol stress hormone. Experts believe that too much cortisol over long periods can contribute to chronic blood pressure, as well as other effects such as high blood sugar and weight gain.

Some research suggests that people with higher cortisol levels may be more likely to have high blood pressure and related complications such as the heart attack and cerebral vascular accidents.

Stress -related lifestyle

Stress can indirectly affect your blood pressure, depending on how you face it. Certain strategies to deal with chronic stress can make you feel better in the moment, but they can increase the risk of high blood pressure. For example, some people can:

• Smoke
• Drink alcohol
• Eat fewer nutrients
• Sit more and become less physically active
• Sleep too little

Each of these lifestyle habits can contribute to high blood pressure.

Some healthier ways to face stress include:

• Perform relaxation techniques: These include meditation and breathing exercises.
• Build social support: Connection with the people you like can help you manage stress.
• Focus on positivity: Practicing gratitude can help cope with stress.
• Be physically active: Follow physical activities, especially those you love. Remember to walk in nature or do exercise lessons with others to promote a feeling of community.
• Prioritize sleep: A good sleep can do wonders for your mental well-being.
• Get a treatment if necessary: If you have a mental health problem, such as anxiety, depression or symptoms of one or the other, this can help contact a health care provider, such as an approved mental health professional.

High blood pressure is treatable by lifestyle changes and drugs. The following strategies can help lower blood pressure:

• Get regular physical exercise: Aim at least 30 minutes of exercise most of the days of the week. The more physically active you are, the more the advantages of your blood pressure and your overall health are important.
• Eat a healthy and healthy diet: The Dash regime and the Mediterranean regime are examples of diets that can lower blood pressure. Decreasing your salt consumption and increasing your potassium intake with fruits and vegetables can also help you.
• Reduce alcohol consumption: Regarding the impact of alcohol, drinking excess, more than two glasses per day for men and more than one drink per day for women, can increase blood pressure.
• Sleep enough quality every night: Adults should target seven to nine o’clock in sleep every night. Bad sleep and not enough sleep can contribute to high blood pressure.
• Stop smoking and avoid used smoke: Smoking increases blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Manage the weight: Overweight or obesity is linked to high blood pressure and other conditions. Speak with a health care provider to get advice on optimal weight for you.
• Talk to your medication health care provider: Many people are counting on drugs to manage their blood pressure. There are many effective options. You can talk to a health professional to know if the drugs could suit you.

Your healthcare professional can help you create a lifestyle change plan with or without medication to help you manage your blood pressure.

A certain stress is a normal part of life. When stress becomes chronic and considerably affects your life, consider reaching out to a health care provider to get help.

Some of the signs that chronic stress can affect you include:

• Sleep difficulties
• Appetite changes
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of interest in the things you appreciate
• Headache
• Feel sick more often

If you feel stress that leads to self -control or suicide thoughts, make up 988 to reach the suicide and crisis lifeline.

If you measure your blood pressure at home, keep a newspaper to discuss your figures with your health care provider. Healthy blood pressure is considered to be less than 120 (upper number) and less than 80 diastolics (lower number). If you notice that your blood pressure can be high, it’s a good idea to discuss it with your health care provider.

When to ask for emergency care

Very high blood pressure (180/120 or more) is a reason to consult an immediate doctor. Call the emergency services if you notice the following symptoms of very high blood pressure:

• Confusion
• Weakness or numbness
• Chest or back pain
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Vision changes
• Difficulty in speaking

Short -term stress can temporarily increase your blood pressure. Chronic long -term stress can be a high blood pressure risk factor due to how chronic stress hormones affect the body. Lifestyle factors associated with stress, such as an inactive lifestyle, can also contribute to high blood pressure.

By working to control the impact of stress with stress reduction techniques and other adaptation strategies, you can help reduce your risk of high blood pressure.