Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure?

This article explores the connection between anxiety and high blood pressure, examining how anxiety can cause temporary spikes in blood pressure and its potential long-term effects on heart health.

Anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder, affect millions of people worldwide and often interfere with daily life—causing mental and physical symptoms like a racing heart and increased stress levels. Another common physical symptom of anxiety is high blood pressure (technically known as hypertension), which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes. Read on to learn about the link between anxiety and blood pressure and how to manage both effectively.

The link between anxiety and high blood pressure

Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress, but when it becomes chronic, it can significantly impact overall health. Common anxiety symptoms include rapid heartbeat, excessive worry, muscle tension, difficulty breathing, and panic attacks. Since anxiety activates the body’s fight-or-flight response, it can cause a temporary spike in blood pressure.

High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood against the artery walls is too high, leading to potential health complications. Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:

• Systolic pressure (top number): The pressure when the heart beats.
• Diastolic pressure (bottom number): The pressure when the heart is at rest between beats.

Chronic hypertension can be caused by genetics, poor diet, lack of exercise, and medical conditions (including anxiety). If left unmanaged, it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney problems. While high blood pressure is a concern, some individuals with anxiety may also experience low blood pressure, which can cause dizziness and fainting.

The effects of anxiety and high blood pressure

Anxiety and blood pressure can have short and long-term effects. Here are some of the most common ones:

Short-term effects

When you experience anxiety, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones increase heart rate and constrict blood vessels, causing a temporary spike in blood pressure. However, once the anxiety subsides, blood pressure typically returns to normal blood pressure levels.

Long-term effects

Chronic anxiety may contribute to long-term high blood pressure in some individuals. While anxiety itself does not usually cause sustained hypertension, frequent spikes in blood pressure due to stress and poor coping mechanisms (such as smoking, excessive caffeine intake, or a sedentary lifestyle) can contribute to overall cardiovascular strain.

Can anxiety cause chronic high blood pressure?

Research suggests that while anxiety can lead to a blood pressure spike, it is not typically a direct cause of chronic hypertension. However, people with persistent anxiety may engage in behaviors that increase their risk of high blood pressure, such as:

• Poor sleep
• Excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption
• Unhealthy diet
• Lack of physical activity

Additionally, chronic stress can lead to prolonged elevation of stress hormones, which may have a negative impact on heart health over time. Regular blood pressure readings are essential to monitor fluctuations and detect any potential issues early.

How to manage anxiety and blood pressure

To maintain a healthy heart and mind, it’s important to manage both anxiety and blood pressure effectively. Here are some strategies:

1. Stress reduction techniques

Mindfulness practices, like meditation and deep breathing exercises, can help reduce daily stressors. If you notice a temporary spike in your blood pressure due to anxiety, you can try practicing slow, deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation to help lower blood pressure.

2. Healthy lifestyle changes

It’s also important to pursue healthy lifestyle choices like eating a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins and ensuring adequate sleep.

3. Seek professional support

If you frequently experience symptoms of anxiety and high blood pressure, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional. Seek medical attention if you experience persistent high blood pressure readings, severe anxiety or panic attacks, chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. A doctor can provide guidance on managing both conditions effectively through lifestyle changes, therapy, or medication, including regular medical check-ups to monitor heart health and blood pressure readings.

It’s also important to pursue therapy or counseling to manage anxiety disorders and anxiety attacks.

How Charlie Health can help

If anxiety is affecting your mental health, Charlie Health is here to help. Charlie Health’s virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides mental health treatment for people dealing with serious mental health conditions, including severe anxiety, depression, trauma, and more. Our expert clinicians incorporate evidence-based therapies into individual counseling, family therapy, and group sessions. With this kind of holistic online therapy, managing your mental health is possible. Fill out the form below or give us a call to start healing today.