Decreasing Stress Can Help Lower Blood Pressure

Summary & Participants

While stress can influence blood pressure levels, there are ways to minimize the impact with simple lifestyle changes.

Webcast Transcript

Patient: “I’d like to know how stress and blood pressure relate” Dr. Dan: All of us experience some stress in our daily lives. It can temporarily raise your blood pressure or increase it if you already have hypertension. But far less is known about whether stress can actually be a cause of high blood pressure. One study that looked at this examined men who had a job with a lot of responsibility but little control, a situation that can cause chronic stress. On average the men had nearly four times the normal risk of high blood pressure. Experts however, believe that most cases of high blood pressure arise from other factors. But if you feel trapped in a stressful lifestyle, you can do something about it. A daily walk, breathing exercises, and even yoga can help you relax. And remember, most people with elevated blood pressure aren’t even aware of it. So just to be safe, get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. With “Ask The Doctor”, I’m Dr. Bruce Dan.