High blood pressure is a condition that can occur without a person even realizing it because of its lack of symptoms. For some people, it is a chronic, or long-term, problem. For others it is acute, or short-term. It may spike suddenly, for no apparent reason, and then drop back down to a healthy range. Even an acute case of high blood pressure poses a health risk, especially if it is recurrent. This is why knowing the causes is so important.
Anxiety
Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D., a hypertension specialist for the Mayo Clinic, explains that while episodes of anxiety do not cause long-term high blood pressure, they can result in temporary spikes. He adds that if these episodes occur almost daily, the spikes in blood pressure that result from them can cause the same damage to the heart, kidneys and blood vessels as chronic high blood pressure can. Sheps recommends speaking to a doctor or mental health care professional to find appropriate treatment for anxiety if controlling it becomes a problem.
Binge Drinking
MayoClinic.com points out that in small amounts, alcohol can lower blood pressure. Drinking too much has the opposite effect and can increase blood pressure suddenly. The website defines "too much" as more than two drinks for a man and over one drink for a woman per day. Binge drinking, which is more than four drinks in a row, can result in a sudden spike in blood pressure levels. The University of Maryland Medical Center adds that more than three drinks in one day interferes with the flow of blood to and from the heart, resulting in high blood pressure.
Smoking
The use of tobacco products causes a dramatic spike in blood pressure levels. A person's blood pressure can rise a minimum of 10 points for each cigarette smoked, remaining elevated for at least an hour afterward, according to MayoClinic.com. Should an individual smoke more than one cigarette in one hour, his blood pressure continues to rise. The University of Maryland Medical Center points out that the nicotine in cigarettes causes blood vessels to constrict, which is the cause of the sudden rise in blood pressure.
Caffeine
Both the American Heart Association and MayoClinic.com state that the role caffeine plays in blood pressure elevation is debatable. Caffeinated beverages do cause a temporary spike in blood pressure, but what is unclear is whether the effects are short-term or long-term.
The American Heart Association explains that this rise in blood pressure tends to occur more frequently in those who do not usually drink beverages with caffeine. The association adds that for those who already have high blood pressure, drinking two to four cups of coffee per day does not appear to have an impact on their condition.
References
- Mayo Clinic: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure?
- University of Maryland Medical Center: High Blood Pressure: Tips to Stop the Silent Killer
- Mayo Clinic: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): 10 Ways to Control High Blood Pressure Without Medication
- American Heart Association: Caffeine and Blood Pressure
