High blood pressure and mental health
The International Society of Hypertension (ISH - "International Hypertension League") goes even further in a position paper, naming "body and mind" alongside diet and exercise as a key pillar of blood pressure reduction. Specifically, it recommends sufficient sleep and stress reduction through meditation, yoga, and mindfulness, as well as listening to music and breathing techniques.
There is even a medical specialty called psychocardiology. In this section we'll take a closer look at the connection between mental health and blood pressure.
We also find the effect of placebos - that is, inactive medications - on blood pressure very fascinating. A tablet with no active ingredient, or even simply imagining taking a tablet, can lower blood pressure. Or consider the vexing issue of "white coat hypertension." Blood pressure is higher when measured by a doctor than when measured at home.
Are you, for example, familiar with the condition alexithymia? People affected have difficulty accessing their emotions. Surprisingly many of these "emotionally blind" individuals suffer from high blood pressure.
Articles in this category:
- Blood pressure and mental health
- Blood Pressure and Stress
- Tip: Quick cold stimulus to calm you during acute stress
- Broken Heart Syndrome
- Blood pressure and emotions (Alexithymia)
- Anger and High Blood Pressure: A Threat to Vascular Health
- Loneliness and Blood Pressure
- Making blood pressure measurements a habit
- Blood Pressure and Personality Type
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.
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