A Patient's Guide to Autoimmune Disease
Stress And Hypertension: Understanding The Link
Hypertension is a silent killer that stealthily progresses in the body and causes irreversible damage if unchecked. Of the various factors that trigger hypertension in the body, the most common one is stress. Stress and hypertension are two very pervasive health issues that have affected millions of people worldwide. The link between the two is somewhat intricate since stress is both a cause and an effect of hypertension.What is hypertension? Hypertension is a chronic medical condition in which the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is consistently too high. Normal blood pressure is defined as below 120/80 mmHg, where "120" is the systolic pressure (when the heart beats) and "80" is the diastolic pressure (when the heart rests between beats). Hypertension is generally categorized as:
Higher perceived stress over time was associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension: Study A 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA), found that moderate and high perceived stress over time were associated with a 15% and 22% increased risk of developing hypertension over a median of 7 years, respectively. For this, the researchers examined the association between perceived stress levels assessed annually for up to 13 years and incident hypertension in the Jackson Heart Study, a community‐based cohort of blacks.
Prevalence of stress in hypertensive patients was found to be 84.3% A hospital-based, cross-sectional study done in Western India for 1 year in 2019 found that the prevalence of stress in hypertensive patients was found to be 84.3% and the common stressors were financial dependence on others, living in rented house, having a daughter of marriageable age because of associated dowry, death of a loved one, sleep-related problem, and owing a debt among others. The study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care found the prevalence of stress in hypertensive patients and the associated risk factors of stress and its implications in disease management.
How you behave/ react due to stress determines the risk of hypertension There is an extremely close relationship between stress and hypertension, mainly based on physiological and behavioral responses of the body. When a person is subjected to stressful conditions, the body triggers the "fight or flight" response, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones raise heart rate and blood pressure briefly to ensure short-term survival; however, chronic stress causes the body to stay in a prolonged state of high alert, which may lead to increased blood pressure and finally hypertension.Stress affects one's behavior, and unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, smoking, higher alcohol consumption, and lower physical activity may result. Such behaviors over time lead to weight gain, poor cardiovascular health, and raised blood pressure. Moreover, sleep is interrupted by stress, thereby increasing anxiety and depression through acts of worsening their respective conditions, complicating regulation of blood pressure.Chronic stress may also directly impact the cardiovascular system by causing inflammation in blood vessels and reducing their elasticity, making it harder for blood to flow smoothly. Research has shown that individuals in high-stress environments, such as demanding jobs or financial hardship, are at a higher risk of developing hypertension. Thus, managing stress effectively is crucial for maintaining healthy blood pressure and overall well-being."There's no proof that stress by itself causes long-term high blood pressure. But reacting to stress in unhealthy ways can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke," says a report by MayoClinic. It says unhealthy lifestyle habits like drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, eating unhealthy foods, eating too much and not moving enough can lead to hypertension."Stress can cause a steep rise in blood pressure. But when stress goes away, blood pressure returns to what it was before the stress. However, short spikes in blood pressure can cause heart attacks or strokes and may also damage blood vessels, the heart and the kidneys over time. The damage is like the damage from long-term high blood pressure," the report explains.
How to reduce the impact of stress? Stress- reducing activities like meditation, deep breathing exercises can lower stress hormone levels and improve emotional resilience. Regular physical activity helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Exercise releases endorphins, natural mood elevators that counteract stress. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins supports cardiovascular health. Reducing salt, caffeine, and sugar intake can prevent stress-induced blood pressure spikes. Good sleep hygiene reduces stress levels and allows the body to repair itself, improving blood pressure regulation.
The Importance Of Blood Pressure Management In Stroke Prevention
Blood pressure control has significant, life-saving effects on preventing the extent of disability after a stroke. Blood pressure control has significant, life-saving effects on preventing the extent of disability after a stroke.
Written by Tavishi DograUpdated : November 16, 2024 12:54 PM IST
One of the risk factors for stroke is high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. This causes extreme pressure within the arteries, which might damage blood vessels and create a stroke. Therefore, controlling blood pressure is among the most important measures for preventing a stroke. Understanding how hypertension relates to stroke, plus identifying early warning signs, may reduce the risks substantially.
How Does High Blood Pressure Lead To Stroke?If it persists for long periods, it erodes and damages the arteries.
The sustained high pressure can furthermore give rise to two kinds of strokes:
High blood pressure is often called a "silent killer" because, most of the time, it has no symptoms whatsoever and may remain unnoticed for years. Many people are unaware of the danger until they have a stroke. So, keeping track of blood pressure is essential.
People with risk factors such as:
Other risks include obesity, stress, and other medical conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol. Awareness of these risk factors and changing lifestyle habits will help prevent the onset of high blood pressure and consequently avoid a stroke.
Blood Pressure Management TechniquesLifestyle changes sometimes involve medication used to manage blood pressure.
Blood pressure management techniques include:
Management of blood pressure is one significant step toward preventing strokes. Healthy lifestyle choices, regular blood pressure monitoring, and compliance with medical care can all help reduce the risk of stroke.
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Researchers Develop Skin Patch To Measure Blood Pressure
Photo by David Baillot/UC San Diego/HealthDay News
A wearable patch the size of a postage stamp that can monitor blood pressure continuously could soon help people manage their hypertension.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, who developed the wearable ultrasound patch report Wednesday in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering that it has worked well in tests with more than 100 patients.
Maintaining a normal blood pressure -- 120/80 -- helps prevent many illnesses, from heart disease and stroke to kidney problems, dementia and vision loss, so many patients with high blood pressure use a cuff-and-meter device to track their levels.
"Traditional blood pressure measurements with a cuff, which are limited to providing one-time blood pressure values, can miss critical patterns," said study co-author Sai Zhou, who recently received his doctorate degree from the University of California, San Diego's Jacobs School of Engineering.
"Our wearable patch offers continuous stream of blood pressure waveform data, allowing it to reveal detailed trends in blood pressure fluctuations," he added in a university news release.
The soft, stretchy patch adheres to the skin and is worn on the forearm. An array of tiny transducers inside it send and receive ultrasound waves that track changes in the diameter of blood vessels. These changes are then converted into blood pressure values.
Developers said the patch produces results comparable not only to those of a standard blood pressure cuff, but also to a highly accurate but invasive device inserted into an artery in intensive care units and operating rooms to continuously monitor pressure.
In tests involving four patients who were in intensive care after surgery and 21 who underwent cardiac catheterization, measurements from the patch were close to those from the arterial line. That, researchers said, shows its potential as a noninvasive alternative.
They have tested the new patch under a variety of conditions -- including daily activities such as cycling, raising an arm or leg, meditating, eating and transitioning from sitting to standing. In all cases, readings closely matched those from blood pressure cuffs.
"Blood pressure can be all over the place, depending on factors like white coat syndrome [being in a doctor's office], masked hypertension, daily activities or use of medication, which makes it tricky to get an accurate diagnosis or manage treatment," said Sheng Xu, a professor of chemical and nano engineering at UC San Diego who developed the patch. "That's why it was so important for us to test this device in a wide variety of real-world and clinical settings."
His team now plans to refine the device and conduct large-scale clinical trials.
More information
There's more about home blood pressure monitoring at the American Heart Association.
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