Blood Pressure & Stress

Stress is a normal part of life and there is no escaping from it. Stress can affect blood pressure, as being in a stressful situation can temporarily raise your blood pressure. However, research is inconclusive as to the long-term affects stress plays on blood pressure.

Stress Defined

• The American Institute of Stress says defining stress is not easy since so many people have different interpretations of stress. Stress is often associated with negative connotations, but not all stress is bad. Stress is defined in some circles as "physical, mental or emotional strain or tension," according to the American Institute of Stress. Most definitions also include various physical, psychological or biochemical responses that result from stress.

Physiology

• During stress, your body creates hormones to deal with the fight-or-flight response to either prepare to fight stress or to back away from it. While today's stress-inducers do not necessarily create the same fight-or-flight reaction as they did hundreds of years ago, stress still brings on an influx of stress hormones. These hormones momentarily raise blood pressure by triggering your heart to beat more rapidly and your blood vessels to constrict.

Long-Term Stress

• With temporary stress, your blood pressure level will subside once the cause of stress disappears. However, long-term stress can lead to the development of high blood pressure. Blood pressure is raised by the constant increase of blood-pressure levels and the nervous system's production of artery-constricting hormones. Aspects that can induce long-term stress include financial worries, relationship issues, social problems and trouble on the job.

Physical Effects of Long-Term Stress

• Long-term stress can lead to health complications. Raised blood pressure over the long haul enhances the odds for harm to the heart, kidneys and eyes. In addition, the chances of stroke rise and constant stress can result in high pressure lingering even after long-term stresses have disappeared. Someone suffering chronic stress can have his blood pressure raised even while sleeping.

Signs of Stress

• When you are dealing with chronic stress, your body will let you know that something is not quite right. Physical warning signs include trouble sleeping, increase or decrease in weight, headaches and upset stomach. Mental warning signals can be characterized by chronic worrying, having a hard time making decisions, and lack of concentration. Emotional signals are characterized by crabbiness, depression and constant mood swings.

Handling Stress

• Removing upsetting situations from one's life is the ultimate solution to stress, but is not realistic. This is where coping skills come into play. A way to achieve a more relaxed state is to incorporate meditation, yoga and tai-chi in your life. Make sure you get plenty of rest so your mind and body are relaxed. Eat and drink in moderation. Overindulging will not help stress and can raise blood pressure even higher.