The Impact of Temporary High Blood Pressure

Temporary high blood pressure can be caused by stress, anxiety, overeating, caffeine and trauma, among other things. Although it is usually harmless, continual rises in high blood pressure can affect your health.

Definition

• Blood pressure measures the force of blood being pushed outward in your artery walls, according to the American Heart Association. Too much force can cause weaker blood vessels, increased risk for blood clots, plaque buildup and increased workload on your heart.

Temporary High BP

• Many factors can cause temporarily high blood pressure. Physical factors such as trauma, smoking, drinking and overeating can increase blood pressure. Emotional factors such as stress and anxiety can also spike blood pressure.

Impact

• The rate of occurrence can be a big factor in whether temporary high blood pressure affects your health. If you have brief bouts of stress once or twice a week, you may be in the clear. But if you are noticing high blood pressure as much as every day or every other day, you may need to see your doctor.

Damage

• If these episodes of temporary high blood pressure start to occur more frequently, they can cause damage to your blood vessels and heart, just as chronic high blood pressure can.

Treatment

• Talk to your doctor if you experience recurring episodes of temporary high blood pressure. Also, try to reduce stress and eliminate risk factors that may cause blood pressure spikes, such as smoking, drinking and caffeine.