Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAcute Pain and Blood PressureChronic Pain and Blood PressureSymptomsManaging Pain and Blood PressureOther Causes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Acute Pain and Blood Pressure
Chronic Pain and Blood Pressure
Symptoms
Managing Pain and Blood Pressure
Other Causes
Pain can causehigh blood pressuredue to what’s called thebaroreceptorreflex of yournervous system.This reflex tells the body to constrict blood flow, which increases blood pressure.
Since both acute and chronic pain lead to an involuntary response from the nervous system, the brain will automatically sense pain and work to stop it from harming the body.Blood pressure changes will continue until the pain is no longer detected, when blood vessels relax and blood pressure returns to normal levels.
This article discusses why pain can cause high blood pressure. It will help you to know what symptoms to watch for and how hypertension can be managed with lifestyle changes, like smoking cessation or stress management, as well as medication.
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Acute Pain and High Blood Pressure
Acute painis pain that comes on quickly out of nowhere. Some of the sudden causes of acute pain include:
Researchers have found a relationship between sensitivity to acute pain and resting blood pressure. If you’re generally healthy but have a high resting blood pressure, you’re unlikely to feel sudden pain.Blood pressure should return to normal levels rather quickly when it’s related to this type of pain.
Chronic Pain and High Blood Pressure
Acute pain that does not go away will becomechronic. It can last weeks, months, or even years. This type of pain may be associated with:
Chronic pain such as the type related to muscle conditions, neuropathy, and migraines has been shown to cause a persistent elevation in blood pressure with a decrease in sensitivity to the pain over time.
Chronic Pain and High Blood PressureWhen pain is chronic, the nervous system is always working to try to fix it. Over time the nervous system will lose its ability to regulate blood pressure. This is why high blood pressure is often associated with chronic pain.
When pain is chronic, the nervous system is always working to try to fix it. Over time the nervous system will lose its ability to regulate blood pressure. This is why high blood pressure is often associated with chronic pain.
How to Recognize and Assess Pain
What Are the Symptoms of Pain and High Blood Pressure?
Symptoms that may occur with pain and high blood pressure include the following:
A pounding sensation in the neck, chest, or ears also may be a sign of high blood pressure.
High blood pressure pain may be managed with or without medications.
Lifestyle Changes
There are quite a few lifestyle changes you can make in order to better manage pain and high blood pressure. These changes include:
Medication
Your healthcare provider may also prescribe medications to lower blood pressure. They will often take into account any other existing health conditions likediabetes,heart disease, orkidneyissues. Medications that manage blood pressure include the following:
What Else Raises Blood Pressure?
Other factors also may affect blood flow and blood pressure. The following can raise blood pressure:
Summary
Pain is a response from the involuntary nervous system used to protect the body from harm. No matter what type of pain occurs, the nervous system uses the same mechanisms to relieve it. As a result, there is a rise in blood pressure.
In acute pain, blood pressure elevations are quickly returned to normal. On the other hand, when chronic pain occurs, there are continuous elevations that weaken the body’s ability to normalize blood pressure. This can lead to more pain, hypertension, and the risk of heart disease.
How Long Does It Take to Lower Blood Pressure?
A Word From Verywell
Everyone’s experience with pain is different. If you find yourself with chronic pain, you may also have high blood pressure. Learning to manage your pain-related high blood pressure is important to prevent any other further health complications. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out what you can do to lower blood pressure.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Saccò M, Meschi M, Regolisti G, et al.The relationship between blood pressure and pain.J Clin Hypertens. 2013;15(8):600-605. doi:10.1111/jch.12145Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).How does the nervous system work?de la Coba P, Bruehl S, Garber J, Smith CA, Walker LS.Is Resolution of Chronic Pain Associated With Changes in Blood Pressure-related Hypoalgesia?.Ann Behav Med. 2018;52(7):552-559. doi:10.1093/abm/kax021Rivasi G, Menale S, Turrin G, Coscarelli A, Giordano A, Ungar A.The Effects of Pain and Analgesic Medications on Blood Pressure.Curr Hypertens Rep. 2022;24(10):385-394. doi:10.1007/s11906-022-01205-5World Health Organization.Hypertension.National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders.Pain.NHS.Causes of high blood pressure (hypertension).National Institute of Health (NIH) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.High blood pressure.Cevik C, Işeri SO.The effect of acupuncture on high blood pressure of patients using antihypertensive drugs.Acupunct Electrother Res. 2013;38(1-2):1-15. doi:10.3727/036012913x13831831849448Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About high blood pressure.Gordon AM, Mendes WB.A large-scale study of stress, emotions, and blood pressure in daily life using a digital platform.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021;118(31). doi:10.1073/pnas.2105573118Edmondson D, Arndt J, Alcántara C, Chaplin W, Schwartz JE.Self-esteem and the acute effect of anxiety on ambulatory blood pressure.Psychosom Med. 2015;77(7):833-841. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000219Watso JC, Farquhar WB.Hydration status and cardiovascular function.Nutrients. 2019;11(8). doi:10.3390/nu11081866
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Saccò M, Meschi M, Regolisti G, et al.The relationship between blood pressure and pain.J Clin Hypertens. 2013;15(8):600-605. doi:10.1111/jch.12145Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).How does the nervous system work?de la Coba P, Bruehl S, Garber J, Smith CA, Walker LS.Is Resolution of Chronic Pain Associated With Changes in Blood Pressure-related Hypoalgesia?.Ann Behav Med. 2018;52(7):552-559. doi:10.1093/abm/kax021Rivasi G, Menale S, Turrin G, Coscarelli A, Giordano A, Ungar A.The Effects of Pain and Analgesic Medications on Blood Pressure.Curr Hypertens Rep. 2022;24(10):385-394. doi:10.1007/s11906-022-01205-5World Health Organization.Hypertension.National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders.Pain.NHS.Causes of high blood pressure (hypertension).National Institute of Health (NIH) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.High blood pressure.Cevik C, Işeri SO.The effect of acupuncture on high blood pressure of patients using antihypertensive drugs.Acupunct Electrother Res. 2013;38(1-2):1-15. doi:10.3727/036012913x13831831849448Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About high blood pressure.Gordon AM, Mendes WB.A large-scale study of stress, emotions, and blood pressure in daily life using a digital platform.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021;118(31). doi:10.1073/pnas.2105573118Edmondson D, Arndt J, Alcántara C, Chaplin W, Schwartz JE.Self-esteem and the acute effect of anxiety on ambulatory blood pressure.Psychosom Med. 2015;77(7):833-841. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000219Watso JC, Farquhar WB.Hydration status and cardiovascular function.Nutrients. 2019;11(8). doi:10.3390/nu11081866
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Saccò M, Meschi M, Regolisti G, et al.The relationship between blood pressure and pain.J Clin Hypertens. 2013;15(8):600-605. doi:10.1111/jch.12145Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).How does the nervous system work?de la Coba P, Bruehl S, Garber J, Smith CA, Walker LS.Is Resolution of Chronic Pain Associated With Changes in Blood Pressure-related Hypoalgesia?.Ann Behav Med. 2018;52(7):552-559. doi:10.1093/abm/kax021Rivasi G, Menale S, Turrin G, Coscarelli A, Giordano A, Ungar A.The Effects of Pain and Analgesic Medications on Blood Pressure.Curr Hypertens Rep. 2022;24(10):385-394. doi:10.1007/s11906-022-01205-5World Health Organization.Hypertension.National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders.Pain.NHS.Causes of high blood pressure (hypertension).National Institute of Health (NIH) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.High blood pressure.Cevik C, Işeri SO.The effect of acupuncture on high blood pressure of patients using antihypertensive drugs.Acupunct Electrother Res. 2013;38(1-2):1-15. doi:10.3727/036012913x13831831849448Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About high blood pressure.Gordon AM, Mendes WB.A large-scale study of stress, emotions, and blood pressure in daily life using a digital platform.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021;118(31). doi:10.1073/pnas.2105573118Edmondson D, Arndt J, Alcántara C, Chaplin W, Schwartz JE.Self-esteem and the acute effect of anxiety on ambulatory blood pressure.Psychosom Med. 2015;77(7):833-841. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000219Watso JC, Farquhar WB.Hydration status and cardiovascular function.Nutrients. 2019;11(8). doi:10.3390/nu11081866
Saccò M, Meschi M, Regolisti G, et al.The relationship between blood pressure and pain.J Clin Hypertens. 2013;15(8):600-605. doi:10.1111/jch.12145
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).How does the nervous system work?
de la Coba P, Bruehl S, Garber J, Smith CA, Walker LS.Is Resolution of Chronic Pain Associated With Changes in Blood Pressure-related Hypoalgesia?.Ann Behav Med. 2018;52(7):552-559. doi:10.1093/abm/kax021
Rivasi G, Menale S, Turrin G, Coscarelli A, Giordano A, Ungar A.The Effects of Pain and Analgesic Medications on Blood Pressure.Curr Hypertens Rep. 2022;24(10):385-394. doi:10.1007/s11906-022-01205-5
World Health Organization.Hypertension.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders.Pain.
NHS.Causes of high blood pressure (hypertension).
National Institute of Health (NIH) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.High blood pressure.
Cevik C, Işeri SO.The effect of acupuncture on high blood pressure of patients using antihypertensive drugs.Acupunct Electrother Res. 2013;38(1-2):1-15. doi:10.3727/036012913x13831831849448
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About high blood pressure.
Gordon AM, Mendes WB.A large-scale study of stress, emotions, and blood pressure in daily life using a digital platform.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021;118(31). doi:10.1073/pnas.2105573118
Edmondson D, Arndt J, Alcántara C, Chaplin W, Schwartz JE.Self-esteem and the acute effect of anxiety on ambulatory blood pressure.Psychosom Med. 2015;77(7):833-841. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000219
Watso JC, Farquhar WB.Hydration status and cardiovascular function.Nutrients. 2019;11(8). doi:10.3390/nu11081866
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