Blood Pressure and Anxiety

There are many variables to consider when assessing blood pressure in people from moment to moment and these can include

" Emotion
" Exercise
" Respiration
" Heavy meal
" Smoking
" Alcohol intake
" Temperature
" Pain
" Bladder problems
" Circadian rhythms
" Age
" Gender
" Race

When having their blood pressure taken, the person should be relaxed and if possible sat in a quiet room with the temperature set at a comfortable degree. If possible the person should have had a period of relaxation before their blood pressure is taken. If these optimum conditions cannot be maintained, it should be realised if the blood pressure is raised that the conditions in which it was taken were not ideal.

Anxiety can raise the blood pressure by as much as 30mm Hg. The fight or flight automatic response to danger is manifested in a raised blood pressure, so if the person is anxious etc, it will then be reflected in their blood pressure being raised.

Lots of reassurance for the individual having their blood pressure checked is often needed, and the person checking their blood pressure should ensure they give that individual the assurance they need that they are very capable.

Once the person becomes accustomed to their surroundings, the person checking their blood pressure and their surroundings, then their blood pressure should subside to a more normal limit. It has been noted that a person's blood pressure is always higher when measured by a doctor and to a lesser degree by nurses. This is known as "white coat syndrome"

When checking someone's blood pressure, it is always wise to monitor their respirations, and pulse rate. If their respirations or pulse rate are above a "normal" rate for that person, then they should be left to rest and their resting pulse rate rechecked again about fifteen minutes later. If it is within normal limits then the blood pressure can be taken.

Many people are anxious to learn more about high blood pressure, and if full explanations are given then this often helps to alleviate their anxiety over their medical problem.

Blood Pressure Guide

• Blood Pressure Basics
• Blood Pressure and Anxiety
• Blood Pressure Diagnosis and Measurement
• Blood Pressure and Hypertension
• Blood Pressure Prevention
• Causes Of Hypertension
• Checking Your Blood Pressure
• Diastolic Blood Pressure
• Exercise and Blood Pressure
• High and Low Blood Pressure
• High Blood Pressure in Children
• High Blood Pressure in Overweight People

• High Blood Pressure and Pre-eclampsia in Pregnancy
• High Blood Pressure - Risk Factors
• Treatment of High Blood Pressure
• Women with High Blood Pressure
• High Blood Pressure (The Silent Killer)
• Hypertension and Prehypertension
• Low Blood Pressure
• Malignant Hypertension
• Measuring Blood Pressure
• Postural Hypotension
• Reducing High Blood Pressure without Drugs
• Systolic Blood Pressure
• Types of High Blood Pressure