Can emotions affect blood pressure?
Your blood pressure may be affected by your reaction to stress. When you are in a stressful situation, your body creates a surge of hormones. These hormones raise your blood pressure briefly by causing your heart to beat quicker and your blood vessels to constrict. Once the crisis is over, your blood pressure returns to its normal level. The effect of emotions on blood pressure has been studied since the 1950s. Research shows that when you are afraid or angry, your heart rate increases and your blood pressure goes up. This is what happens when you experience a "fight-or-flight" response to a dangerous situation. If this response occurs frequently during daily life, it can have serious long-term effects on your health. For example, people who experience many negative emotions regularly are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease and other illnesses. Studies show that those who suffer from depression are about 20% more likely than others to develop hypertension. Those who panic often are also more likely to have high blood pressure. It appears that when you are in a state of fear, your blood pressure will rise regardless of what cause you are reacting to. So, yes, emotions can affect blood pressure.