Stress and long-term increase in blood pressure may not be related to each other, but stress reduction can improve the general condition, including blood pressure.
Stressful situations may be accompanied by a temporary rise in blood pressure. But can stress cause permanent hypertension? Researchers can not yet give a definite answer to this question.
However, measures aimed at lowering blood pressure, such as physical exercise for 30-60 minutes a day can also reduce stress levels. And if you are diagnosed with hypertension, interventions aimed at reducing stress may help to better cope with high blood pressure.
Stress - a reaction to situations that require quick mobilization of forces. With this purpose in the body stand out hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Doctors refer to these hormones, stress hormones. Once, at the dawn of humanity, these hormones were important "helper" in the human struggle for survival in the wild. However, stress hormones are allocated in situations where you face to face encounter with the other situations: for example, dismissal, notice of the death of a close relative or exam.
The relationship between stress and hypertension
Although many researchers have studied the relationship between stress and the development of hypertension, evidence that stress can lead to this disease, no. It is possible that other factors associated with stress, such as overeating, excessive alcohol and poor sleep can cause hypertension.
The researchers also examined the association between heart disease and emotional states associated with stress such as anxiety, depression, isolation from family. Although scientists believe that these states are associated with the development of coronary heart disease, evidence that they lead to hypertension, no.
Stress is known to lead to the synthesis of hormones cortisol and adrenaline. And they, in turn, can cause damage to the arteries, including coronary. Hence, coronary heart disease and its relationship with stress. Note also a fact that stress and depression can alter human behavior, including neglect of medicines for the treatment of hypertension.
Increase in blood pressure associated with stress, can be pronounced. However, when the stressor is, blood pressure normalized. However, even a transient increase in blood pressure, which is significant, could adversely affect the condition of the heart, kidneys and brain, as well as in chronic hypertension.
In addition to this, if you react to stress smoking, alcohol or overeating, you have an increased risk of hypertension and heart disease and stroke.
Reducing stress helps to reduce blood pressure
Despite the fact that reducing stress may not directly reduce high blood pressure, measures to help eliminate stress, improve the overall condition of the patient, which also affects hypertension.
How can reduce stress? On this subject there is a lot of information in the literature and the Internet. Here are some tips:
Simplify your schedule. People are often very busy every day. Take a look at the list of their cases today or tomorrow. You will see that some things are not quite important to you. However, they are given time, which could be spent on more important things. So try to pay less than the time for such insignificant or completely eliminate them.
Relax and breathe deeply. When stress starts to work faster heart and breathing quickens, while it becomes more superficial. Therefore, to relax in a stressful situation, try to breathe deeply and slowly.
Exercise. Physical activity - it is a natural "killer" stress. Just be sure to consult with a physician before engaging in any exercise or sport, especially if you suffer from hypertension or coronary heart disease.
Yoga or meditation. It is noted that these measures will also help to cope with stress and reduce blood pressure.
Improve your sleep. Chronic lack of sleep not only leads to stress, but also to an increase in blood pressure.
