You would probably think that stress has a direct impact on blood pressure wouldn't you? Stress can obviously spike your blood pressure but surprisingly, there is no firm evidence that it can cause long term high blood pressure.
With today's hectic pace of life and all the challenges we face with employment, finances, relationships and even the morning commute, it would be logical to think those constant stresses would elevate your pressure.
However the jury is still out on that one.
What everyone will agree to is that less stress is better.
Stress triggers the fight or flight response in our bodies which was useful years ago when facing animals or others that represented a physical threat.
This response releases hormones which, among other things, causes blood pressure to rise.
However, today our stress is usually caused by perceived threats not physical ones.
This makes no difference to the body and it continues to pump out adrenaline and cortisol.
Not only that, but we do not respond to the perceived threat by fighting or running so the hormones are not burned off but linger in the body keeping pressure elevated until they wear off naturally.
While researchers cannot find a direct link between stress and hypertension, they theorize that the stress may cause behavior like overeating, smoking, increased alcohol use and sleeplessness that contribute to HBP.
There's another concern that emotional stress from anxiety or panic disorder may also create self destructive behavior like not taking prescribed medication for blood pressure.
It would seem apparent however, that even if there is no direct link, your blood pressure, and your overall health, would be better off with less stress in your life.
Easier said than done right? In today's world stress is just part of the countryside.
It is an everyday occurrence and it would seem that there isn't a great deal we can do about it.
But there are some ways to manage it.
Identify the stressors.
Understand that the things that you think cause stress like the job, money and or health issues really aren't.
Your brain simply sees them as threats and so responds accordingly.
If you list the stressors and then methodically figure out the best way to deal with them, they become challenges and your brain will react to them differently.
It's like being stalked by a mugger and your brain gets you ready to run.
But when faced with a difficult math problem, your brain simply gets you ready to think.
Exercise, sleep and meditation methods like yoga and deep breathing can help the physical side of stress.
There's even a method called binaural beats that "trains your brain" to relax.
But if you're reading this you probably have, or know someone who has, high blood pressure.
And you're probably stressing over it which of course starts the endless cycle of stress, higher pressure, more stress.
You have to treat this disease the same you would any other stressor.
Turn it into a challenge.
Learn what you have to do to control your condition.
Maybe it's drugs, maybe you can use a natural approach or maybe you need to combine both.
What you absolutely have to do is take action.
Without action the stress remains and so does the high blood pressure.