Key takeaways

  • Anxiety can cause temporary spikes in blood pressure due to the release of stress hormones during the body’s fight-or-flight response.
  • Long-term anxiety and unhealthy lifestyle choices linked to it may increase the risk of developing chronic high blood pressure.
  • Managing anxiety through therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes can help moderate blood pressure and alleviate related symptoms.

Anxiety can cause feelings of worry, tension, and stress. Some people notice that anxiety may trigger certain physical symptoms, including a rapid heart rate. This may lead to a temporary spike in your blood pressure levels.

Conversely, a hypertension (high blood pressure) diagnosis may cause you to experience anxiety about your health.

Persistent anxiety may also make it more likely that someone will take up certain lifestyle habits that may harm heart health, such as smoking or alcohol use. These factors can contribute to high blood pressure in the long term.

Understanding the connection between anxiety and high blood pressure may help you manage your conditions.

Anxiety may lead to chronic high blood pressure due to its influence on certain lifestyle choices, such as smoking or reducing physical activity. However, it is often a trigger for short-term spikes in blood pressure.

This happens as a result of the impacts that anxiety has on your body. For example, as you experience moments of stress, your brain activates your sympathetic nervous system. You may hear this called your fight-or-flight response.

During the fight-or-flight response, the levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol spike, temporarily increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. Afterward, these levels, along with your blood pressure, begin to return to their typical levels.

Long-term stress, which may be associated with feelings of anxiety, may also increase the risk of health problems like high blood pressure.

The relationship between these two conditions may be bidirectional. For example, someone may experience anxiety symptoms after receiving a high blood pressure diagnosis.

Mild high blood pressure typically doesn’t cause symptoms. However, if it’s moderate to severe or causing complications, it may lead to symptoms similar to anxiety, such as:

  • shortness of breath
  • dizziness
  • chest pain
  • headaches

Severe high blood pressure is dangerous and may lead to stroke if it isn’t managed by a healthcare professional. If you’re experiencing symptoms like these, get medical help right away.

Managing underlying feelings of anxiety can help moderate your blood pressure and reduce any symptoms.

A primary care doctor or other healthcare professional, like a psychiatrist or psychologist, can work with you to create a treatment plan. This may include a combination of treatment methods, such as:

  • Talk therapy: Different types of talk therapy are available. One of the most effective treatments for anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps retrain your brain and provides the tools you need to cope with moments of stress or anxiety.
  • Medications: A doctor may recommend certain medications in conjunction with talk therapy. These may include antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.
  • Lifestyle changes: Finding ways to manage your stress levels may help reduce symptoms of anxiety. Meditating, engaging in regular physical activity, and getting enough sleep may also be beneficial.

If you experience temporary increases in blood pressure from anxiety, treatments for anxiety may help keep your blood pressure in check.

However, if you develop high blood pressure outside of any feelings of anxiety, your treatment will likely differ. In this case, a doctor will likely recommend treatments to improve your heart health and lower your blood pressure.

These typically include medications and lifestyle changes. Many of these treatments will also help reduce any symptoms of anxiety, such as dizziness or a racing heart rate.

For example, beta-blockers are FDA approved for high blood pressure, but doctors may also prescribe them off-label to help manage anxiety symptoms.

Other types of medications that a doctor may recommend for high blood pressure include:

  • diuretics
  • calcium channel blockers
  • angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
  • angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

Alongside medication, a doctor will likely suggest certain lifestyle changes, which may include:

  • managing stress, which may reduce blood pressure as well as feelings of anxiety
  • getting regular physical activity, which can help manage your blood pressure as well as lower your stress levels
  • eating a balanced diet, such as the DASH diet, that limits salt
  • limiting your alcohol intake to help protect your heart health
  • avoiding smoking
  • maintaining a moderate weight

Anxiety and high blood pressure may present with similar symptoms, such as a racing heart rate and chest pain. There is also a connection between the two conditions, as anxiety can lead to short-term spikes in your blood pressure. This happens as part of your body’s natural response to stress.

This works both ways. You may notice feelings of anxiety after receiving a diagnosis of high blood pressure or as a result of its symptoms.

Treatment for one condition may help manage the other. If you notice symptoms of anxiety or think you may be at risk of high blood pressure, talk with a doctor. They will work with you to create a treatment plan that works best for you.