How does fear affect blood pressure?

Fear can lead to a temporary increase in blood pressure due to the body's natural "fight or flight" response. When a person experiences fear, the body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which cause the heart to beat faster and blood vessels to constrict. This leads to an increase in blood pressure as the heart pumps blood more quickly and with greater force through narrower vessels. Blood pressure usually returns to normal once the fear subsides or the person calms down. However, chronic or excessive fear can contribute to long-term high blood pressure if not managed effectively.