Stress Causes Hypertension

Many people believe that stress causes hypertension, but in over fifty years of research, doctors have yet to prove that there's actually a link between the two.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, is the force with which the body pushes blood against the artery walls as it travels throughout the circulatory system. Too much force (anything over 140/90 mm Hg is considered "high") can cause damage to the artery walls. This is it what concerns doctors when their patients suffer from hypertension.

Stress Causes Hypertension: Fact or Fiction?

Doctors know that blood pressure increases when a person is under physical or emotional stress, and many believe that feeling constantly stressed can lead to the body maintaining these abnormally high levels. Unfortunately, after many years of research, doctors have not been able to prove that stress causes hypertension.

Even so, many of them now believe that it is the lifestyle choices a person makes in order to deal with stress that actually causes hypertension. What are some of these lifestyle choices? They include:

• Smoking

• Drinking more than two drinks a day (for men) and more than one drink a day for women

• High levels of sodium

• Not exercising

• Diets low in potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

While all of these factors may contribute to the development of hypertension, the truth is, most doctors simply do not know what causes this phenomenon. Some even believe that a lot of it might be a natural extension of the aging process.

Different Types of Hypertension

There are in fact two different types of hypertension:

• Primary hypertension: Primary hypertension accounts for ninety to ninety-five percent of all cases of hypertension and it's the type that is most strongly associated with lifestyle choices.

• Secondary hypertension: This type of hypertension is usually caused by a pre-existing medical condition, such as congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and/or liver damage. This type accounts for about five to ten percent of all cases of hypertension.

What Can Be Done?

If you suffer from hypertension, making some of the following lifestyle changes may help:

• Don't smoke: Many know that smoking can be very harmful to a person's health, but because the habit is so difficult to break, many shy away from taking this step. Know, however, that help is available. Talk to your doctor to learn some of the best and safest ways to stop smoking.

• Limit stress: Even though there is no definitive link between stress and hypertension, doctors do know that stress can be harmful to the body. In light of this finding, relieving stress, perhaps by exercising or mediation, can only help, not hurt.

• Maintain a healthy weight: It's not uncommon to suffer from stress, hypertension and be overweight. If this describes you, don't feel bad and many share this very same problem. Instead, calculate what the best weight is for you and then make small, manageable changes, to help achieve it.

• Restrict alcohol: Alcohol in itself is not bad, but imbibing too much of it can lead to health complications. Limiting yourself to one to two drinks per day is the healthiest way to go.

• Restrict sodium intake: Sodium, or salt, has been linked to hypertension and doctors recommend no more than 1.5 to 2.5 grams per day. That works out to about 4 to 6 tsp. a day.

• Increase fruit and vegetable intake: Fruits and vegetables are filled with necessary vitamins and minerals and several studies show that most people do not get the recommended amount, so it may also be a good idea to increase your intake of both.

Putting It All Together

Many people believe that stress causes hypertension, but as of yet, nothing has been able to prove it. In the grander scheme of things, however, most people know that stress is not helpful to the body, and when there is an underlying medical condition, such as hypertension, it can only hurt, not help any effort to get better.

In light of this, the best way to deal with stress and hypertension is through a multi-faceted approach. Deal with stress (via mediation, journaling or any other relaxing activity), and deal with hypertension by making heart-smart choices. In this way, you'll know that you are doing all you possibly can do to stay in fighting form.

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