Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure?

Moments of stress and anxiety can quickly raise your heart rate and cause temporary spikes in blood pressure. And this has led people to wonder about the effect that chronic anxiety has on the risk of developing high blood pressure over time. Let’s take a closer look at the link between anxiety and blood pressure, and if one condition makes you more likely to develop the other.

Can anxiety cause high blood pressure (hypertension)?

Periods of high stress, anxiety, or panic attacks can cause temporary rises in blood pressure and heart rate. But there’s not enough evidence to confirm that anxiety disorders cause long-term hypertension — though it has been suggested in certain studies.

When you become anxious or stressed, your body responds with surges in certain hormones. Adrenaline and cortisol are released, which can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. This is how panic attacks and anxiety may affect blood pressure readings temporarily. 

By themselves, occasional spikes in blood pressure don’t lead to hypertension or cause problems. But, if stress-related spikes in blood pressure happen often enough, this can cause blood vessel damage. It can also put stress on the heart and kidneys. These harmful effects are similar to what happens in people with hypertension. 

Anxiety can also lead to high blood pressure if people often respond to stress with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Some behaviors that can cause hypertension include:

• Smoking or vaping

• Drinking too much alcohol

• Drinking too much caffeine

• Eating too much and/or eating unhealthy food

• Not exercising or maintaining a comfortable weight that promotes your overall health

• Not getting enough sleep

• Not taking their prescribed medications for high blood pressure

Rarely, medications to treat anxiety, such as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), can cause an increase in blood pressure. Your healthcare professional may have to adjust your medications if you develop high blood pressure as a side effect.

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Are you at high risk for high blood pressure?

Certain genetic and lifestyle factors can put you at greater risk for developing high blood pressure (also known as hypertension), which can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Understand your risk so you can take steps now to help prevent future health problems. This is for informational use only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, a diagnosis, or endorsement of treatment. Always consult a doctor. By continuing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use.

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How do you stop anxiety from causing high blood pressure?

The best way to prevent anxiety from causing high blood pressure is to take steps to reduce stress. Let’s look at six simple ways to reduce both anxiety and blood pressure.

Exercising 

Exercise releases hormones and endorphins in your body that help lower both anxiety and blood pressure. Exercise also decreases stress hormones and inflammation, and opens up blood vessels. These can all lead to lower blood pressure. 

All you need is 15 to 30 minutes a day most days of the week. And your exercise doesn’t have to be elaborate. Staying active can be as simple as walking your dog.

Practicing mindfulness

Activities that allow you to focus on your breathing are very helpful in lowering both blood pressure and anxiety. By breathing slowly and deeply, your heart beats slower. This not only causes less stress on the heart, but it can also help reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety.

Getting plenty of rest 

Sleep is essential to our overall mental and physical health. When you’re sleep-deprived, your heart has to work harder to pump blood to the rest of your body. Lack of sleep can also worsen your anxiety. And sleep deprivation raises stress hormone levels, like cortisol.

Aiming for at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night may help reduce stress and keep your blood pressure in the normal range.

Eating a healthy diet 

The food that you eat can have an effect on your mood. The high-calorie, high-fat treats that you may crave when stressed have lots of added salt and sugar. These foods can directly impact your blood pressure and increase chances of anxiety and depression. It’s best to reach for fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains when you feel anxious or stressed. These healthy foods can actually help to stabilize your mood. 

Limiting alcohol 

While alcohol in small amounts may not immediately be cause for concern, larger amounts can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. Any amount of alcohol can make anxiety worse. It’s best to avoid it if you have both chronic anxiety and hypertension. 

Taking supplements

Some supplements may have potential for helping to lower blood pressure and reduce stress levels. Magnesium, in particular, has both a calming and blood-pressure-lowering effect. More research is needed to support the use of supplements in preventing high blood pressure. 

Can anxiety treatment cause high blood pressure?

Some medications used to treat anxiety can lead to increased blood pressure. These include:

• SNRIs, such as venlafaxine (Effexor XR)

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as phenelzine (Nardil)

• Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), such as bupropion (Wellbutrin)

• Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam (Ativan) when discontinued and in withdrawal

After starting medication for anxiety, you’ll be monitored closely to see if there are any changes in your blood pressure. It’s also important to mention any personal or family history of high blood pressure. This helps your healthcare professional select the safest medication for you.

Can high blood pressure cause anxiety?

Just like anxiety and stress can cause spikes in blood pressure, having high blood pressure can also contribute to anxiety. People with high blood pressure may feel fearful over what high blood pressure could do to the body, and about their overall health and future.

Remember that many people don’t have symptoms with high blood pressure. But the knowledge of having the condition may lead to increased anxiety. Another common source of anxiety in people with new high blood pressure is the need for medications to lower blood pressure. Talking with your primary care provider can help relieve fears about side effects or financial concerns related to new medications.

The good news is, it’s uncommon for most blood-pressure-lowering medications to cause anxiety. In fact, some blood pressure medications, such as beta blockers and clonidine (Catapres, Catapres-TTS), can be used to treat anxiety. That being said, different people can respond differently to medications. If you develop increased anxiety after starting a new blood pressure medication, let your healthcare professional know.

When to talk with your healthcare professional 

Anxiety and high blood pressure can sometimes be signs of an underlying medical problem. Fortunately, high blood pressure and anxiety can both be treated with medication and lifestyle changes. But first you have to talk with a healthcare professional and get an accurate diagnosis. 

Some of the signs you should get medical care about symptoms of anxiety are:

• You feel anxious frequently, or out of proportion to the situation.

• You think you have an anxiety disorder.

• Your blood pressure is elevated at home. 

• Your anxiety affects your daily activities.

• Your anxiety doesn’t go away.

Remember, some anxiety is a normal part of everyday life. And by itself, it doesn’t cause long-term hypertension. But if anxiety is affecting your quality of life on a daily basis, it can lead to high levels of stress hormones. Your primary care provider can help you find ways to manage anxiety and stress.

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Written by:

Frank Schwalbe, MD

Frank Schwalbe, MD, is an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the Yale School of Medicine. He has practiced anesthesiology for 30 years.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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