Anxiety and High Blood Pressure: A Complex, Bidirectional Relationship

We all experience spikes in blood pressure and a little anxiety; it may strike at a doctor's appointment or when you have to give a big speech. However, the symptoms are generally short-lived.

Some people, though, experience anxiety from high blood pressure and vice versa, which isn't uncommon. The two conditions have a strong link to one another and can lead to serious issues.

Are you among the roughly 38% of the population who live with anxiety and high blood pressure? Dr. Elia R. Gonzalez-Rodriguez offers various treatments at her Pacific Phoenix Psychiatry & TMS practice. She's an experienced psychiatrist offering anxiety treatments, TMS therapy, and medication management for improved mental and physical health.

The facts on anxiety

Anxiety is a mental health disorder that happens when someone experiences excessive worry that interferes with everyday activities. It's more than just a little worry; it’s a fight-or-flight response that never disappears.

Anxiety affects every aspect of a person's life, from school to personal relationships. It leads to intense fear and worry about anything and everything, even if you know it's irrational. The symptoms of anxiety vary but often include muscle tension, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath.

The physical symptoms of anxiety are scary and sometimes mimic a heart attack. It isn’t uncommon for your blood pressure to become elevated when dealing with an anxiety attack. In the absence of treatment, these symptoms will either fluctuate or remain constant.

Does anxiety cause high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is one of the results of anxiety for many reasons. Even people without anxiety experience slight spikes in blood pressure during stressful periods or events.

However, anxiety does cause blood pressure to temporarily spike during an attack because of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can temporarily raise blood pressure by constricting blood vessels during times of stress.

The spike in blood pressure is temporary, and it regulates itself when the anxiety attack resolves. However, people living with chronic anxiety are at risk for developing hypertension over time.

Chronic anxiety may result in frequent blood pressure spikes, causing damage to the blood vessels. The result is an increased risk of developing hypertension later in life.

High blood pressure and anxiety

Anxiety does cause bouts of high blood pressure, but the opposite is true as well. People living with high blood pressure can also develop anxiety, in part due to fear of complications of hypertension.

High blood pressure can have serious complications, which you may worry about. Consistent worry about your health and wellness related to high blood pressure can trigger bouts of anxiety that develop into an anxiety disorder over time.

The symptoms of high blood pressure can also cause a lot of stress, which may trigger an anxiety attack. Headaches, dizziness, and shortness of breath are prevalent high blood pressure symptoms that may lead to intense fear and worry about your health.

The good news is that you can manage both high blood pressure and anxiety. If anxiety is triggering other health problems, we offer various treatments, including medication management, psychotherapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Contact our team today to schedule an appointment for anxiety treatment or request a consultation on the website. Our team offers services to those living in the greater Portland area, Salmon Creek, East Vancouver, and Steilacoom-Lakewood, Washington.