Can stress cause high blood pressure?

Stressful situations cause your blood pressure to increase temporarily, as a normal part of the fight or flight stress response triggered when our brains and minds perceive a threat or danger. While researchers are still out whether or not these temporary spikes in blood pressure caused by stress can cause long-term high blood pressure, most feel that these temporary spikes can be dangerous if stress becomes chronic and poorly managed.

If you have repeated and frequent stress responses, there is a potential for cardiovascular health issues, particularly if an underlying cardiovascular health issue is already present. Managing stress is an important part of maintaining overall health and wellness. Sometimes people respond to stress with unhealthy coping mechanisms like smoking, drug use, alcohol use, or eating poorly. Reacting to stress in this way may contribute to the potential risk of increased blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes.

Ongoing or chronic stress can often be a facet of anxiety, depression, and social isolation. These issues are also related to cardiovascular health problems, including high blood pressure. However, the risk comes from the hormones produced under stress rather than the conditions themselves.

Managing stress is an important part of overall wellness. This can include:

• Incorporating exercise into your weekly routine
• Utilizing relaxation skills like mindfulness, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation
• Practicing yoga
• Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule
• Setting healthy boundaries with your time that allows you to spend time doing things you enjoy
• Spending time in activities that you enjoy and hobbies that are of interest to you
• Engaging in supportive and healthy friendships and relationships with friends and family

Experiment with stress management techniques and consider working with a counselor to home in on the sources of stress, get help reframing and rethinking stressful situations, support in setting boundaries, and specific techniques to help you address and manage stress in your life.

If you feel that your stress has become difficult to manage or interfere with your ability to function in your daily life, talk with your doctor or licensed mental health professional.