Does Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure

These hormones trigger an increase in the heart rate and a narrowing of the blood vessels.

Does anxiety cause high blood pressure. The tricky thing is establishing an unambiguous cause and effect relationship between anxiety and high blood pressure says dr. So even though anxiety may not cause chronic high blood pressure it can cause similar health problems. If those temporary spikes occur frequently such as every day they can cause damage to your blood vessels heart and kidneys as can chronic high blood pressure. Anxiety causes the release of stress hormones in the body.

There s no proof that stress by itself causes long term high blood pressure. Stress can either be perceived stress or actual stress for instance work stress relationship stress postpartum stress or financial stress. Sheps adds a warning about a second way in which anxiety can damage cardiovascular health. Certain behaviors are linked to higher blood pressure such as.

I f you re wondering if anxiety can cause high blood pressure the answer is a resounding yes. Stress and anxiety can raise your blood pressure yet it does not happen for a longer time interval. Anxiety is caused by the body s stress response. High blood pressure may be somewhat self sustaining as a result of anxiety because excess sodium also causes an increase in blood pressure.

Finally it is always important to remember that blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day due to exertion diet hydration and more. Both of these changes cause blood pressure to. James brian byrd a hypertension specialist and assistant professor. But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic temporary spikes in your blood pressure.

Anxiety does not cause any permanent change to a person s body that leads to high blood pressure however. At the end of the day when you feel anxious and stressed your pulse goes up as your circulation system is infused with the stress hormones which ultimately cause your heart to work harder. Rather it simply causes a spike in blood pressure that may last until the anxiety dissipates.