Blood pressure and emotions (Alexithymia)
What is alexithymia?
Alexithymia describes difficulty identifying and expressing emotions. People with alexithymia often have trouble recognizing emotional signals in themselves and others, which can cause problems in social situations and in their inner experience. The causes are varied and can include genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors.
The term alexithymia was coined in the 1970s by psychotherapist John C. Niemah and psychiatrist Peter Emanuel Sifneos. The name comes from Greek (a, lexis and thymos) and roughly means the "inability to read and express feelings." It is estimated that about 8 million people in Germany are affected. That is roughly one in ten. The German terms used for alexithymia are emotional blindness and emotional coldness.
People with alexithymia often have difficulties with the following:
- Identifying emotions: They find it hard to recognize and name their own emotions.
- Expressing emotions: They struggle to verbally express their emotions to others.
- Understanding emotional reactions: Recognizing and understanding others' emotional reactions is often challenging.
- Interpersonal relationships: Forming and maintaining relationships can be hampered by difficulties expressing emotions.
- Imagination and creativity: They have a limited imagination and fewer imaginative dreams or thoughts.
How alexithymia and blood pressure interact
Research on alexithymia and blood pressure
Research points to an interesting link between alexithymia and high blood pressure. Here are three notable studies on the subject.
- The study "The effect of alexithymia on morbidity in hypertensives" by B.C. Gage and K.J. Egan, published in 1984 in "Psychother Psychosom", examined the impact of alexithymia on the severity of hypertension. They compared hypertensive patients with and without alexithymia in terms of hypertension severity, based on diastolic blood pressure, fundoscopy, ECG, chest X-rays, kidney studies, and patient history. The results showed that people with alexithymia had more severe hypertension-related problems than those without, although there was no difference in the degree of arteriosclerosis. This suggests that alexithymia may not only be correlated with high blood pressure but could also play a role in its development.
- The study "Clinical characteristics of hypertensive disease in patients with alexithymia" by O.V. Lyshova, V.M. Provotorov and Iu.N. Chernov, published in 2002 in "Kardiologiia", explored links between alexithymic personality traits and more severe clinical forms of hypertension. The study of 202 patients with stage II hypertension found that people with alexithymia had a longer duration of hypertension, more frequent target-organ damage, increased lipid peroxidation processes, reduced antioxidant defense activity, and disturbances in lipid metabolism. Night-time hypertension or an insufficient nighttime dip in blood pressure was also more common in people with alexithymia.
- The study "Alexithymia and Hypertension: Does Personality Matter? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" by Marialaura Di Tella et al., published in "Curr Cardiol Rep" in July 2023, conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the link between alexithymia and hypertension. The analysis, based on data from 13 studies, found that alexithymia occurs significantly more often in people with hypertension than in those without. This suggests that alexithymia may contribute to the onset and persistence of hypertension symptoms, although more research is needed to clarify the relationship.
Conclusion:
The discovery of a link between alexithymia and high blood pressure highlights the importance of considering psychological factors in the treatment and prevention of hypertension.
For people with alexithymia and hypertension, it may help to develop strategies to better manage and express emotions. Some tips that could help include:
- Attend therapy: Therapeutic interventions, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, can help improve emotional awareness and expression.
- Keep an emotion diary: Regularly writing down thoughts and feelings can help build awareness of emotional states.
- Physical activity: Regular exercise can lower blood pressure and improve emotional well-being.
- Relaxation techniques: Practices like meditation, yoga, or deep-breathing exercises can reduce stress and help with noticing and processing feelings.
Of course, it also makes sense to seek professional help. There is even a field called psychocardiology.
These findings emphasize how closely physical and mental health are linked. A comprehensive approach that addresses both physical and psychological aspects can be crucial for improving the quality of life for people with high blood pressure.
Sources:
This article is from Tensana – the leading app since 2011, helping hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 01/2026).
Author Horst Klier has been closely involved with high blood pressure since 2002 – initially because he was personally affected and, since 2009, as the developer of Tensana – and is now regarded as a recognized blood pressure expert thanks to his app and specialist platform, used millions of times, as well as his numerous publications. As the author of several health guides and specialist articles, he communicates complex knowledge in a clear and practical way.
Author Horst Klier has been closely involved with high blood pressure since 2002 – initially because he was personally affected and, since 2009, as the developer of Tensana – and is now regarded as a recognized blood pressure expert thanks to his app and specialist platform, used millions of times, as well as his numerous publications. As the author of several health guides and specialist articles, he communicates complex knowledge in a clear and practical way.
