Major causes of stress include illness, job changes, moving, separations and divorces, deaths in the family, and financial difficulties. But even joyous events, like marriage, the arrival of a baby, or entertaining guests, can be stressful. Your body is suddenly prepared for action. Researchers tell us that stress may play a role in the development of high blood pressure, though more studies are necessary to tighten up the connection. Stress also appears associated with heart disease, even if a direct causal relationship has yet to be proven.
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure.
You can have high blood pressure without feeling stressed or tense. However, continual stress may lead to permanently elevated blood pressure. Stress is not bad in and of itself. It may help to make us more alert, energize us, or give us a motivational kick in the pants. Properly harnessed, stress can indeed work to our advantage at times.