| Anxiety disorders, which include anxiety panic attacks | | | | in a stressful situation like, speaking publicly, the body |
| and phobias, are among the most common mental | | | | responds by increasing the secretion of epinephrine |
| illnesses, affecting about 20 million American adults and | | | | (adrenaline) and cortisol, often referred to as stress |
| millions of children. For every individual with anxiety | | | | hormones. |
| panic attacks, many people are affected by anxiety | | | | These hormonal elevations can result in an increase in |
| panic attacks, including spouses, children, other relatives, | | | | blood pressure, a faster heart rate, and a constriction |
| friends, and employers. | | | | of the blood vessels. When the stressful condition is |
| Although anxiety panic attacks can cause rapid | | | | over, the system gradually returns to baseline, and |
| increases in your blood pressure, it has not been | | | | blood pressure returns to normal. As stated above, |
| shown to cause persistent high blood pressure. | | | | frequent temporary spikes in blood pressure can have |
| However, if episodes of anxiety panic attack occur | | | | negative consequences that are similar to those of |
| frequently, they may cause significant damage to | | | | persistent high blood pressure. |
| blood vessels and kidneys over time, increasing the | | | | All that being said, it is important that you manage both |
| chances that a person will develop high blood pressure. | | | | your high blood pressure and your anxiety. Talk to |
| We should also look at the effect of stress on blood | | | | your physician to be sure that you are doing all you |
| pressure. Most research in this area is challenging, in | | | | can to reduce your blood pressure to normal levels. At |
| part because it is difficult to establish an agreed-upon | | | | the same time, it would be helpful to seek appropriate |
| definition of stress. Nevertheless, when individuals are | | | | treatment of your anxiety panic attack disorders. |