Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnxiety and Blood PressureShared CausesTreatmentsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anxiety and Blood Pressure
Shared Causes
Treatments
Frequently Asked Questions
Anxiety and high blood pressure (hypertension) can occur together and even cause each other. High anxiety levels can lead to a spike in blood pressure, and getting a diagnosis of high blood pressure can lead to anxiety. However, some other medical conditions and medications can cause both high blood pressure and anxiety.
Read on to learn more about the link between hypertension and anxiety and the factors contributing to both conditions.
High Blood Pressure Can Lead to Anxiety
Finding out you havehigh blood pressurecan causeanxiety, particularly if you are prone to having anxiety about health conditions.
That said, having anxiety about the condition is understandable. High blood pressure significantly increases your risk of serious health conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease, and eye problems.
However, receiving a diagnosis of high blood pressure is the first step to getting treatment and reducing your risk for these outcomes. Studies have shown that heart (cardiovascular) events and death risk are substantially reduced when blood pressure levels greater than 140/90 Hg are treated.
There are many ways to lower your blood pressure. Healthcare providers can prescribe many differentmedicationsthat are safe and effective at getting your blood pressure under control. Additionally, there are several healthy lifestyle changes you can make to help lower your blood pressure.
Anxiety Raises Blood Pressure
It’s well known that acute anxiety can dramatically increase blood pressure levels. The rise happens because of the body’s response to sudden stress, known as the “fight or flight response.”
The effects of chronic anxiety on blood pressure are still debated. Studies have shown conflicting evidence of a relationship between anxiety and high blood pressure. However, more recent studies do suggest a possible link between the two conditions.
White Coat Effect
Causes of Both Hypertension and Anxiety
Medical conditions and medications can cause both high blood pressure and anxiety, and certain lifestyle factors can also contribute to both conditions.
Medical Conditions
The following medical conditions can cause both high blood pressure and anxiety:
When blood pressure is high because you have one of these conditions, it’s known assecondary hypertension. Primary aldosteronism is a common cause of high blood pressure, whereas the other conditions listed are much less common causes of high blood pressure.
Medications
Several medications can cause high blood pressure and anxiety:
Some medications used to treat depression and anxiety, like MAO inhibitors andserotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs) can sometimes increase blood pressure.
Lifestyle
The following are lifestyle factors that can cause or contribute to high blood pressure or anxiety:
There are several well-proven treatments for both high blood pressure and anxiety. Your healthcare provider will work with you to make an individualized treatment plan to address your needs.
Lifestyle Changes
There are many proven lifestyle changes that can lower blood pressure. Making these modifications may also help manage mood and anxiety disorders.
Medication
In addition to lifestyle factors, you may need medication to get your blood pressure under control or to treat mood and anxiety disorders. Many different classes of medications are available to treat these conditions.
Some frequently used medications to lower blood pressure include:
In some cases, beta-blockers, aldosterone antagonists, and vasodilators are used to lower blood pressure.
Talk therapy is often effective for treating anxiety, and many people also benefit from taking medication. For example,selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) are a widely used class of medication for treating anxiety.
However, other medications for anxiety, like serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and tricyclic antidepressants, should be used cautiously in people with high blood pressure.
Summary
High blood pressure and anxiety can occur at the same time and one condition can contribute to the other. Diet, exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle changes can help manage both high blood pressure and anxiety. Some people need to take medications to help control their blood pressure and treat their anxiety.
A Word From Verywell
High blood pressure and anxiety are both treatable and there are many proven, safe treatments for each condition. Discuss them with your healthcare provider to find the one (or combination) that is right for you.
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18 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.
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