As a consulting doctor who comes across anxiety patients often, I turned quite interested in learning the relation between anxiety and high blood pressure.
Which causes which? Well, the answer seems complex. And, I thought of explaining both the scenarios.
Does Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure?
There are many facets to this.
1. Anxiety does not cause chronic hypertension. But, repeated episodes of anxiety can cause damage to your organs, such as the heart, kidneys, and even blood vessels.
So, anxiety may not cause chronic blood pressure but the effects would be the same.
2. Another effect of anxiety on blood pressure is that, when a person is on anti-depressants to lower anxiety, its side-effects cause an increase in the blood pressure. So, the medications of anxiety, such as anti-depressants, may increase your blood pressure.
3.A Lack Of Sleep: When you have anxiety, you tend to lie awake worrying. In doing so, your body’s stress reaction is activated when it is time to relax and let your body recover from all the tensions of activities, feelings, and thoughts of that day. Such a state of stress causes your body to release cortisol and adrenaline, which are two chemicals that raise your blood pressure.
And this may make you suffer from Hypertension!!
Now, let’s have a look at the other side.
Does High Blood Pressure Causes Anxiety?
Well, not directly. But, the fear of the adverse effects of high blood pressure on your body might make one anxious (not everyone!).
Keeping both at bay would do us a lot good.
So, what do we do?
Well, there are many natural ways to remain stress-free and healthy.
Here’s the list which can help you stay
- Yoga
- Exercise
- Meditation
- Massages
- Outdoor activities
- Daily one-hr walk
Along with these easy and healthy ways, follow a healthy lifestyle. Maintain a healthy weight. Do not smoke. Exclude alcohol and have a diet which includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and all necessary healthy fats.
Doing so, you can keep anxiety and high blood pressure at bay easily.
Written by Dr. Krutika, Associate doctor to Dr. Rajesh Shah
