Blood pressure and mental health

High blood pressure is a health challenge that involves not only physical but also psychological aspects. Even patients' specific expectations or simply visiting the doctor can change blood pressure readings or influence the effectiveness of a treatment (placebo effects, white coat hypertension). The interaction between mental health and high blood pressure is therefore a fascinating field. It shows how psychological states influence the development, course, and management of high blood pressure and vice versa.

The psychosomatic aspects of high blood pressure look at how thoughts and feelings can affect our body. Many people know that stress can be an important cause of high blood pressure. But stress is often caused by mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. If someone suffers from these issues, they may later develop high blood pressure. The current ESH guidelines list depression as a risk factor for high blood pressure in certain groups of people.

Panic attacks are also significantly more common in people with high blood pressure, occurring in up to 39%. A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear, accompanied by a racing heart, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Whether panic attacks lead to high blood pressure or the other way around is still unclear. One hypothesis is the "labeling effect": the diagnosis or treatment of high blood pressure can trigger anxiety in some people. That anxiety could then lead to panic attacks. It can also happen that people with high blood pressure who suffer from panic attacks stop taking their blood pressure medication. This may be because they mistakenly interpret the signs of panic as side effects of the medication. Therefore, it is important to properly recognize and treat panic in people with high blood pressure.

Not only stress but also other emotions are an essential part of our daily lives. Studies have shown that strong negative emotions such as anger can raise blood pressure. In contrast, positive emotions (e.g. calmness, serenity) can lower blood pressure. It is important to recognize your own feelings accurately in order to regulate them well.

Sometimes, however, people do not notice their feelings at all or cannot express them well. This is called alexithymia. It makes communication between your inner world and your body more difficult. Alexithymia is particularly common in people with high blood pressure, with rates between 16% and 55%. This "emotional blindness" can mean a great deal of tension and stress for those affected. This means that alexithymia may contribute to the development and persistence of high blood pressure.

A person's personality also plays a significant role in high blood pressure. Certain personality traits can make someone more likely to engage in risky behavior, such as smoking. They can also influence how a person manages the condition, for example, whether they take their medication, as well as how they deal with stress. In particular, traits such as strong ambition, impatience, aggressiveness, and a tendency to suppress stress reactions and anger are repeatedly observed in many people with high blood pressure.

On the other hand, a high level of compassion can contribute to lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure. It may even protect people with a family predisposition from high blood pressure.

When managing high blood pressure, it is therefore also important to consider the person's mental well-being. This includes relaxation techniques such as Jacobson's progressive muscle relaxation and meditation. These can have a calming effect and reduce stress.

So when it comes to high blood pressure, it is important to understand that the mind plays a major role. The relationship between our emotional life and our physical health is complex. A comprehensive approach that includes not only medical treatment but also our feelings can help us manage high blood pressure better. If you are concerned about your mental health, it is advisable to seek professional help.

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