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Dec. 15, 2025

The connection between anxiety and blood pressure

Ezekiel Bii, NP

Medically reviewed by:
Ezekiel Bii, NP

Anxiety and high blood pressure can turn into chronic conditions when not adequately managed, and put you at greater risk for heart disease. WellMed is dedicated to providing quality health care with a strong focus on prevention.

Anxiety and high blood pressure are common in the U.S., affecting an estimated 18% and 48% of adults.1, 2 When these conditions occur at the same time, it’s essential to understand how they can lead to more serious health issues when not properly managed.

Knowing how anxiety and blood pressure are linked can help you get these conditions under control. Here’s a closer look at their connection, and how WellMed can help.

How does anxiety lead to high blood pressure?

Experiencing short bouts of stress every now and then is completely normal. The human body views anxiety as a potential threat and is designed to deal with it efficiently.

During bouts of anxiety, your blood pressure rises as part of the body’s natural “fight-or-flight” response to threats and stressful situations.3 Your body also releases higher amounts of stress hormones to help you deal with the threat. Reduced appetite, increased sweating and a faster heart rate are other symptoms of anxiety.

Anxiety and high blood pressure are linked in other ways as well. For instance, smoking, drinking alcohol, and overeating can lead to temporary spikes in high blood pressure.4 Some people use these behaviors to cope with stress and anxiety, putting them at higher risk for developing chronic high blood pressure, or hypertension.

How can high blood pressure lead to anxiety?

Living with any chronic condition—including hypertension—can undoubtedly be stressful. Chronic conditions often require routine doctor’s visits and ongoing treatment, usually in the form of medications. Symptoms of hypertension, such as headaches and shortness of breath, can also contribute to anxiety, especially if they limit your usual activities or reduce your quality of life.

Most importantly, high blood pressure can increase your risk for stroke and heart disease—both of which are leading causes of death in the U.S.2 Being aware of these facts can worsen your anxiety if you are already dealing with high blood pressure.

Is anxiety causing your hypertension, or is hypertension causing your anxiety?

If you have both conditions, how can you tell which one came first? Addressing the initial condition can often lead to the resolution of both problems or significant improvements in each.

First, it may help to reflect on your personal history with high blood pressure. Is your blood pressure consistently high, or does it only increase when you see your doctor? The answers to these questions may help you uncover the root causes of your conditions.

White-coat syndrome

White-coat syndrome refers to blood pressure that is only high in a medical setting when measured by a healthcare provider.5 At all other times, blood pressure readings are regular.

This syndrome usually occurs due to anxiety or stress about visiting the doctor. Common reasons include fear of a possible new medical diagnosis or anxiety about accumulating high medical bills.

People with white-coat syndrome are at greater risk for heart disease than people whose blood pressure readings are consistently normal.5 However, masked hypertension, which is the opposite of white-coat syndrome, is equally dangerous.

In masked hypertension, people with high blood pressure have normal blood pressure readings in a clinical setting.6 These patients may feel more relaxed in a doctor’s office away from stressors like traffic and work, which temporarily reduces their blood pressure as a result. This is dangerous because it leaves hypertension undetected and untreated, paving the way for heart disease, heart attack and other complications.7

Blood pressure logs from home blood pressure monitoring are recommended to help with diagnosing hypertension. This also helps in figuring out if a person is experiencing white-coat hypertension or masked hypertension.

Hypertension that drives anxiety

If chronic high blood pressure is driving your anxiety, worrying about it may only make it worse. It is possible to manage hypertension safely and effectively, even without medication.

Your provider can help you find ways to manage hypertension that work best for you. Some practical things to try include:8

  • Drinking less alcohol
  • Not smoking
  • Exercising regularly
  • Getting quality sleep
  • Eating heart-healthy foods

If hypertension is causing you to feel uncertain about your health or future, your doctor can talk to you more about this condition, its common causes and its outlook. It may also help to know that hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for heart disease.9

Stress management training can improve the way you cope with anxiety, so it doesn’t cause unnecessary spikes in blood pressure. The key to managing stress is finding stress relievers that work best for you. Some good examples include taking a warm, relaxing bath or practicing mindfulness meditation. Your provider can connect you with additional resources for stress management.

Signs of anxiety-related blood pressure

Short bouts of anxiety can cause temporary spikes in blood pressure.10 Checking your blood pressure regularly using an at-home monitor can be a good way to know whether your condition is chronic and long-term, or being triggered by occasional bouts of anxiety.

Signs your blood pressure may be driven by anxiety:

  • Persistent worrying
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Upset stomach and digestive issues
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Hypertension with symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heart rate, dizziness and sweating
  • You have white-coat syndrome
  • Visiting the doctor or dentist makes you nervous

These symptoms often indicate that your anxiety and blood pressure spikes are tied to temporary stress, not a chronic condition.

Is there a link between anxiety and low blood pressure?

Sometimes, anxiety can lead to low blood pressure, also known as hypotension.11 Anxiety-driven hypotension may cause a rapid heart rate, like in hypertension. This condition, however, is less common.

Under normal circumstances, heart rate and blood pressure should both be in low-to-normal ranges when resting, and in elevated ranges when exercising. Therefore, a rapid heart rate with low blood pressure usually indicates the presence of an underlying condition.

Common causes of anxiety that occur with hypertension include:9

  • Dehydration
  • Pregnancy
  • Standing up too quickly
  • Feeling shock or fear
  • Infections
  • Internal bleeding
  • Severe allergic reaction
  • Anemia
  • Thyroid disorder
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Pulmonary embolism

It’s okay to have a rapid heart rate with low blood pressure every now and then for various reasons. See your doctor if it becomes a regular occurrence or if you need help uncovering the root causes of your symptoms.

How to lower anxiety-related blood pressure

It is entirely possible to lower high blood pressure that is driven by anxiety. If anxiety is truly the root cause, the solution lies in addressing the factors causing your anxiety.

Here are some practical ways to lower anxiety-induced blood pressure8:

  • Practice deep breathing. Deep breathing reduces heart rate, breathing and blood pressure, helping you relax.
  • Take a warm bath. Soaking in warm water is relaxing. Plus, it increases your blood circulation and widens blood vessels to lower blood pressure.
  • Start moving. Exercise and physical activity can naturally reduce stress and regulate both mood and blood pressure.
  • Eat heart-healthy foods. Certain foods may lower your blood pressure naturally to combat the effects of anxiety. Try to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish.
  • Reduce your salt intake. Cutting out just 1,000 mg of salt per day can significantly improve your blood pressure and heart health.12 Easy ways to cut out salt include cooking your own meals, avoiding processed foods and using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor your food.
  • Drink less alcohol. Alcohol has harmful effects on blood pressure and heart health. It can lead to the constriction of blood vessels, hormonal imbalances, dehydration, heart disease and more.
  • Get more sleep. Lack of sleep causes the body to release higher amounts of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can further drive anxiety and spike blood pressure.13

Your provider can also talk to you about medical treatments for anxiety and high blood pressure. Available treatments include:

  • Medications
  • Stress management training
  • Counseling
  • Talk therapy

When to see a doctor

See your doctor as soon as possible if you have anxiety and/or high blood pressure regularly. Addressing these concerns early on can prevent both from becoming chronic conditions that require long-term treatment.

Signs it’s time to visit your doctor about anxiety and blood pressure:

  • Consistent blood pressure readings of 130/80 mm Hg or higher
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Problems with focus and concentration
  • Reduced performance at work or school
  • Avoiding activities that could potentially cause anxiety
  • Severe sleep deprivation, or a sleep disorder
  • Extreme irritability and mood swings
  • Panic attacks that last longer than 15 minutes
  • New, unexplained physical symptoms, which may happen with depression and anxiety

Your provider can perform an evaluation, identify the root causes of your symptoms and help you get your health back on track.

Anxiety and hypertension have the potential to become serious medical emergencies. Call 911 or get emergency medical help if you or a loved one experiences the following14:

  • At least two blood pressure readings of 180/120 or higher
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Back pain
  • Numbness and weakness
  • Vision changes
  • Difficulty speaking

How WellMed can help

Anxiety and high blood pressure can turn into chronic conditions when not adequately managed, and put you at greater risk for heart disease. WellMed is dedicated to providing quality health care with a strong focus on prevention, helping you keep your anxiety and blood pressure levels in check for optimal health.

Contact WellMed today at (888) 781-WELL or visit our website to find a doctor near you.

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