Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated most of the times. The American Heart Association defines high blood pressure as a blood pressure reading of 130/80 or higher. People often relate anxiety to Hypertension! Are they really related?

The answer is Yes & No!

For hypertension people, the BP is high, and the blood can’t flow to organs like your heart, kidneys etc effectively. If that lasts only for a short period of time (watching a scary movie), it is not necessarily a concern. But, when the pressure is high for a long time like in hypertension, it may cause organ damage over the years. This can lead to things like kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, heart attacks etc

Anxiety, on the other hand, is the body’s natural mechanism towards stress. They can be related to a job interview related stress, stress induced out of an important task or even the stress due to a physical threat/attack etc. But if this feelings of anxiety lasts for longer duration and is interfering with normal life, you may have an anxiety disorder. It could be because of a post traumatic stress, social anxiety, phobia or even panic disorder. Periods of high anxiety or such panic attacks can cause temporary high blood pressure and can perhaps impact the internal organs and cause conditions similar to that of hypertension (high BP)

There is no conclusive research evidence that states one lead to another. However, anxiety disorders can induce people to resort to coping mechanisms like smoking, alcohol, and overeating etc that can lead to hypertension in the long run. Some medications for anxiety and depression (SNRI drugs) can also create hypertension in long run.

The natural ways to help relieve anxiety & depression in the long run is through healthy habits such as exercises, breathing exercises, meditation, yoga and also limiting the intake of alcohol & smoking. However, always consult a doctor alongside the help of a qualified fitness expert