Blood Pressure
Stress can produce a significant spike in blood pressure levels, but it is not certain how closely related it is to permanent hypertension, according to the Mayo Clinic. The body's response to stress could result in the production of stress hormones to help deal with the tension. This has been called the fight-or-flight response, handed down to us from thousands of years ago when wild animals, enemies or nature threatened our ancestors. The body responds in a similar manner today when people are faced with financial problems, job loss or other modern stressful conditions. The body still produces the same surge of hormones, even though you don't have to fight or retreat. The hormones temporarily increase blood pressure as you heart begins to beat faster and your blood vessels narrow.
Chronic Stress
Temporary stress can cause dramatic increases in blood pressure, but the levels return to normal when the stress is gone. However, that still could cause damage down the road to your heart and blood vessel. Heart disease has been linked to stressful conditions, such as anxiety and depression, the Mayo Clinic says. It might not be the stress that causes high blood pressure. Instead, certain conditions might cause people to neglect their health or stop taking medication to control high blood pressure. However, chronic stress may be a significant factor in hypertension, according to a study reported in the July 10, 2008, issue of the Journal of Hypertension. Acute stress can temporarily raise blood pressure, but there is no evidence that it causes long-term hypertension. Brazilian researchers, however, looked at various studies and found that chronic stress might play a role in hypertension. They concluded that acute stress is not a risk factor for hypertension, but ongoing stress could cause sustained levels of high blood pressure.
Stress Reduction
Stress might play a role in raising blood pressure, but other factors could contribute to it, too. These factors include smoking, obesity and lack of exercise. Dealing with those issues might help lower blood pressure and reduce stress. A person might react to stress by smoking, drinking excessively or consuming an unhealthy diet, and this could lead to high blood pressure. Activities that help reduce stress could also help reduce high blood pressure. These activities include exercising 30 to 60 minutes most days, undergoing stress management techniques, doing yogi or tai chi exercises, eating healthy, and avoiding drinking and smoking.
