Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure & How to Prevent Both

Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure & How to Prevent Both

Anxiety can make you feel on high alert at all times. Therefore, it's not uncommon to see a spike in blood pressure due to anxiety. However, does anxiety could high blood pressure in the long term? 
Not exactly. 
Yet, some lifestyle choices can cause an uptick in both. Suffice to say, things can get pretty messy between the head and the heart! Let's discuss the connection between high blood pressure and anxiety so that you can manage these conditions efficiently.

The Link Between Anxiety and High Blood Pressure

There is an undeniable link between bouts of anxiety and blood pressure spikes. Whenever we face moments of stress, it can cause anxious behaviors.

Simultaneously, stress triggers the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. These hormones intact our fight-or-flight instincts that promote a rise in body temperature and increase in blood pressure.

While it seems like anxiety triggers high blood pressure, they're really both just mental and physical reactions to stress.

Stress causes the mental anguish that promotes anxious behaviors and the physiological change in hormones that causes high blood pressure. If anything, anxiety and high blood pressure are symptoms of stress rather than of each other.

Is There A Connection Between Anxiety and Hypertension?

According to the Mayo Clinic, instantaneous anxiety can cause a dramatic blood pressure spike. However, anxiety does not cause long-term high blood pressure.

If you feel anxious, your blood pressure spikes in the short term. This is most notable when a person gets their blood pressure taken at a doctor's office.

The anxiety of a doctor's visit can cause elevated and inaccurate blood pressure readings. However, if you were to take the blood pressure an hour later while the patient is at home, you'd probably get a more accurate reading. This phenomenon is so common that it is called white coat hypertension.

It is common for those with an anxiety disorder to experience ups and downs. When whatever is causing the anxiety trigger comes to an end, your blood pressure should return to its average rate.

Will Chronic Anxiety Lead to Hypertension Development?

As explained by the American Heart Association, chronic anxiety doesn't make you develop hypertension. However, the coping mechanisms used to handle these mental health issues CAN increase your risk of hypertension.

For instance, many people who experience chronic anxiety may:

  • Smoke Cigarettes
  • Drink Alcohol
  • Use Drugs
  • Binge-Watch Television
  • Overeat

Additionally, some medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can cause an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, taking these medications long-term might pose some problems for certain people.

When blood pressure spikes become too frequent, it might start to harm blood vessels and organs. Please speak to your physician if you show signs of hypertension to discuss other ways to treat anxiety.

How to Manage Anxiety and High Blood Pressure Symptoms

Managing anxiety and high blood pressure is essential for good mental health and preventing heart disease. Here are some tips for hypertension and anxiety management.

Tend to Mental Stress

Mental stress is a significant cause of anxiety. Our minds fixate on specific people, jobs, and obsessive ticks. Dwelling on these situations is what causes anxiety. They also promote blood pressure spikes.

The most effective way to manage daily stress is to start your day off with backup. Tranquility Labs' Tranquilene Total Calm. This all-natural supplement contains calming herbs that support mental clarity. In addition, it contains GABA.

GABA is a neurotransmitter that promotes a relaxed mindset. These effects are amplified by the amino acid L-theanine. Derived from green tea, this stimulant enhances GABA activity within 15 minutes.

This formula is also enriched with niacinamide, Vitamin D3, and tryptophan. All of these are necessary for our bodies to convert 5-HTP into serotonin. Remember we mentioned earlier, medications that improve serotonin levels may have side effects that lead to hypertension.

You must also take moments for yourself throughout the day. Exercise regularly, including short walks in the middle of the workday.

Incorporate deep-breathing techniques as stress mounds. Lastly, practice yoga to work out any anxious energy and find your inner peace.

Change Your Diet Patterns

As we mentioned, chronic stress plays a significant role in high blood pressure and anxiety symptoms. Many of us are aware of the mental aspect of stress. However, the physical is just as important, especially for hypertension development.

Cut back on processed foods, fast food, and excess animal fats. Many of these items are prepared with too many omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6s cause mental and physical and stress.

First, they can promote brain inflammation that leads to Alzheimer's Disease. Furthermore, excess omega-6s can clog arteries, making it harder for blood vessels to travel. In turn, too many omega-6s can increase the risk of heart disease.

Eat leaner proteins, such as wild-caught fish, tofu, nuts, and seeds. These are rich in omega-3s that can bypass the blood-brain barrier to prevent inflammation. Supplement with Tranquility Labs' CogniDHA for extra support!

Monitor Your Blood Pressure

Tracking your blood pressure can ensure you see healthy spikes rather than hypertension development. Overcome white coat hypertension by getting your blood pressure readings at home.

The Generation Guard Arm Blood Pressure Monitor stores up to 90 readings so that you can make educated decisions about your health.

This state-of-the-art blood pressure monitor provides real-time health monitoring with an easy-to-use and easy-to-read interface for all.

All-Natural Blood Pressure Supplements

With the mental stress under control and hypertension prevention practiced through diet changes, it's time to work on the high blood pressure. The most effective tool in blood pressure management is Newport Natural Health's Complete Blood Pressure Support.

This proprietary blend of herbs contains nattokinase, an enzyme derived from fermented Japanese food natto. Nattokinase supports blood clotting and supports healthy blood platelet aggregation.

It's also enriched with quercetin, a potent antioxidant that helps blast fat cells. These benefits are complemented with olive leaf extract, which is rich in oleuropein.

Oleuropein helps reduce the risk of age-related conditions, including heart disease. You can also get a healthy serving of oleuropein daily with Tranquility Labs' Olive Leaf Extract with 20% Oleuropein!

Happy Mind, Healthy Heart

Sure, you should worry about high blood pressure and anxiety. However, they aren’t the primary concerns. You really need to manage stress. 

Stress triggers both anxiety and high blood pressure symptoms. It causes physiological and mental changes that can make these issues become more frequent. 

Break the vicious cycle. Reclaim your physical and mental health. Change your diet habits and live a more active lifestyle. 

Monitor your blood pressure regularly to assure you’re not at risk for hypertension development. Then, support your mental state with Tranquilene Total Calm and physical well-being with Complete Blood Pressure Support. 

When you get your mental health in balance, the physical will follow...and vice versa. It doesn’t matter where you begin. Start tending to your wellness today!

Essential Takeaways:

  • Stress causes anxiety and high blood pressure
  • Instantaneous stress can cause blood pressure spikes 
  • Chronic anxiety won’t cause hypertension development

BONUS RECIPE: Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 slices whole-grain bread
  • 3 tablespoons hummus
  • ¼ avocado, mashed
  • ½ cup mixed salad greens
  • ¼ medium red bell pepper, sliced
  • ¼ cup sliced cucumber
  • ¼ cup shredded carrot

- Spread one slice of bread with hummus and the other with avocado.

- Fill the sandwich with greens, bell pepper, cucumber and carrot.

- Fill the sandwich with greens, bell pepper, cucumber and carrot.