Hypertension & Stress

Stress and hypertension go hand in hand. Stress is a major source of hypertension, which, if not diagnosed, can lead to strokes, heart attacks and even death. Because hypertension can develop silently over time, you may want to explore the relationship between stress and hypertension. Understanding how stress works, hypertension risk factors and stress management techniques can help prevent a potentially fatal diagnosis.

Understand Stress

• It is important to understand the dynamics of stress and how it works. Stress is essentially your body's reaction to an environmental stimulus that requires immediate attention. Your body will seem more energized and your mind will be more focused during a stressful situation. During stress, your brain produces cortisol, which is the hormone responsible for muscle tension. This goes back to our primitive "fight or flight" response.

  Stress can be positive for short-term situations, such as during a sports game or completing an emergency task in a short time limit. Stress, however, can become negative for seemingly endless situations, including financial pressure, hazardous jobs and increased long-term responsibilities. If this happens, stress can lead to lack of sleep, irritability and hypertension.

Hypertension Risk Factors

• Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when your heart is forced to pump blood at a higher than normal rate. Hypertension can develop over a number of years, making it difficult to self-diagnose but easily detectable by physicians.

  Understand that there are several factors for hypertension that you may have. Hypertension is more common in middle-aged men, while women develop it after menopause. Blacks develop hypertension earlier than whites; hypertension also runs in the family. Obesity, tobacco use, a high-sodium diet and lack of physical activity also contribute to hypertension because they cause a narrowing of the arteries, requiring your heart to pump harder. Under high stress, your heart may not know when to relax because it is always in the "fight or flight" mode.

Stress Reduction Techniques

• If you belong to a risk group listed above, consider maintaining your stress levels to reduce the risk of developing hypertension. Identify the sources of your stress and how you can reduce their effects. For example, if your main source of stress is work, you may not be able to quit your job. You can, however, see if getting organizational help or delegating authority can reduce your stress. You also may need to schedule vacation time if you can accept that your job will not fall apart while you are gone.

  If your hypertension is physically oriented, you may need to start with exercise. Thirty minutes per day of light exercise, such as walking, can help eliminate the obesity and physical inactivity risk factors. If you need to quit smoking, consider professional help sources, including physicians and Food and Drug Administration-approved products.