{"id":30468,"date":"2021-05-03T10:00:22","date_gmt":"2021-05-03T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=30468"},"modified":"2026-03-01T14:00:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T19:00:38","slug":"anxiety-and-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/anxiety-and-blood-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Can anxiety cause high blood pressure?"},"content":{"rendered":"

All of us feel anxious at times\u2014maybe you\u2019re nervous about a presentation or you\u2019re stressed about arriving somewhere on time. You may joke that you can feel your blood pressure rising. But if you experience anxiety on a regular basis, should you be worried about it also causing high blood pressure?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Panic attack vs. heart attack<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Anxiety and blood pressure: What\u2019s the link?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Anxiety is the body\u2019s physical response to stress. Heavy breathing, feeling \u201cbutterflies\u201d in your stomach, or getting a sudden burst of energy are all physical manifestations of anxiety. Feeling anxious at times is completely normal and can even be helpful in certain situations. We all have a fight or flight response, like if you saw a bear in the woods your body would generate the epinephrine needed to run quickly. When you experience these short episodes of anxiety, increased heart rate and a short-term blood pressure spike is both likely and helpful. \u201cBlood pressure varies moment to moment in all people,\u201d says <\/span>Evan Jacobs, MD<\/span>, primary care physician at Conviva Care Center in Parkland, Florida. \u201cStressors such as pain, discomfort, or anxiety will elevate blood pressure temporarily and this is a normal reaction.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Long-term high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, isn\u2019t just the temporary result of a stressful situation\u2014it\u2019s when blood pressure is <\/span>consistently too high<\/span>, according to the American Heart Association. Hypertension is a common health condition, nearly half of American adults have it. When patients have uncontrolled elevated blood pressure, it may make patients feel anxious. When blood pressure is controlled with medication, patients often feel calmer and less jittery.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, can anxiety cause high blood pressure? It\u2019s unclear to researchers whether experiencing frequent episodes of anxiety or having an anxiety disorder directly increases the risk of having chronic high blood pressure. They do know that chronic anxiety and anxiety disorders\u2014like general anxiety or social anxiety\u2014<\/span>are associated with cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/a> and have been linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including hypertension. The \u201cwhy\u201d isn\u2019t clear. Maybe anxious people use unhealthy behaviors like smoking, excessive alcohol use, or overeating as coping mechanisms. Each of these activities are risk factors for high blood pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, mental health and physical health are linked, says Georgia Gaveras, DO, the chief psychiatrist at <\/span>Talkiatry<\/span><\/a>. \u201cAnxiety can be related to increased blood pressure, and to protect one, we must protect the other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>How the pandemic is affecting your blood pressure<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What is white coat syndrome?<\/span><\/h3>\n

One interesting phenomenon related to anxiety and hypertension is white coat syndrome or white coat hypertension. This occurs in <\/span>15% to 30%<\/span><\/a> of patients who have a rise in their blood pressure due to nerves or anxiety when they are in a clinical setting, such as a dentist\u2019s or doctor\u2019s office (hence the \u201cwhite coat\u201d name). In fact, this type of anxiety can raise blood pressure by <\/span>10 points<\/span>. It\u2019s a concern for patients because they may be prescribed unnecessary medication that can have detrimental side effects. What makes it even trickier is that white coat syndrome can sometimes be an early warning sign for actual hypertension.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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