HOW DOES HYPERTENSION AFFECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?

How Does Hypertension Affect Your Mental Health?

How Does Hypertension Affect Your Mental Health?

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Even though people with blood might not think at first, hypertension does lead to poor mental health and vice versa. Also known as high blood pressure, it is a silent killer. People with this health condition are often asked to use at-home medical supplies like blood pressure machines, defibrillators, etc. 

If not taken proper care, high BP can also lead to heart attack. While high BP can cause mental health issues, if neglected, then mental health problems can worsen blood pressure. So, the question remains- how does it affect one's mental health? How can it be managed? For your better understanding, here is everything you need to know. 

Effects of Hypertension on Mental Health


When it comes to hypertension and mental health, they both share a complicated relationship. So let's understand how it affects one's mental health:

  • Stress - When it comes to mental health, hypertension plays a significant role in stress. At the same time, stress can worsen blood pressure, if not managed. The body responds to stress as though it were in a fight-or-flight mode. This leads to the production of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can raise blood pressure. It can also cause your heart to beat more quickly, resulting in cardiac arrest. No wonder why healthcare professionals recommend people with BP to rely on equipment like at-home blood pressure machines and semi-automatic defibrillators.

  • Anxiety - Anxiety and high blood pressure are associated and can affect your mental health. Feeling anxious makes your body react by telling you to fight or flee. As a result, hormones like adrenaline are released which raises your blood pressure. If not treated or constantly anxious, it can lead to a severe chronic problem. Such mental health conditions can also cause poor relationships, low self-esteem, etc.

  • Depression - Another way hypertension affects one mental health is through depression. They share a strong correlation and can make stress worse. Have you ever noticed that when you are depressed or anxious, your breathing rate increases? Yes, this happens due to elevated blood pressure caused by mental health conditions. Therefore, one must always keep track of their BP at home using blood pressure monitors.

  • Emotional Well-Being - Hypertension affects one's emotional well-being and vice versa. For instance, people who think positively or are in a happy mood, have low blood pressure. However, people with negative thoughts or those feeling stressed and anxious all the time may have high blood pressure. If not treated, it may also lead to other mental health issues such as social isolation, sleep disruptions, etc.


Tips to Take Better Care of Your Hypertension 


Now that you know what hypertension can do to your mental health, you must take care of it. Wondering how? Well, here are some tips that will help you better control your blood pressure:

  • Know Your Numbers - The very first step to managing your hypertension is knowing your numbers. If you have high blood pressure, then you must monitor your readings regularly. A wise decision would be to keep a blood pressure machine at home at an easy-to-reach location. By knowing your readings, you can make necessary changes be it lifestyle adjustments or diet. Moreover, this also helps healthcare professionals in tracking the effectiveness of their therapies.

  • Limit Alcohol and Smoking - When it comes to maintaining blood pressure, one must limit alcohol and quit smoking. Even though stopping at once might feel like a daunting task, make sure you take small steps ahead. Drinking too much alcohol and smoking can raise blood pressure, so rely on medications or seek help from professionals.

  • Maintain Your Weight - People with high blood pressure must maintain their weight because as weight grows it rises BP. Overweight can also cause other problems like difficulty in breathing and sleeping. Therefore, a minor weight loss can help reduce blood pressure. Also, check the weight around the waist because if excessive, it may then increase the risk of hypertension.

  • Ease Stress - People with hypertension often deal with mental health issues like stress, anxiety, depression and more. Therefore, it is crucial to ease stress and this starts with identifying the sources. It is not possible to take control of stress if you fail to understand what's causing it. Once identified, stay away from stress triggers, make time to relax, do what makes you happy and practice gratitude.

  • Stay Active - Another way to lower hypertension is by staying active by engaging in physical activities. You can start with aerobic exercises such as jogging, cycling, walking, dancing and swimming. You can also indulge in high-intensity interval training or strength training to lower blood pressure. In addition to this, also make sure you keep track of your levels using blood pressure monitors. Moreover, you can also ask your healthcare professional to set up an exercise for you.

  • Get Quality Sleep - Did you know that getting less than 7 hours of sleep per night may contribute to hypertension? Not sleeping adequately can lead to disorders such as restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea, insomnia, etc. So aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep and if you have problems, then seek help from your healthcare provider. To enjoy better sleep quality, stick to a sleep schedule, create a restful space, limit naps, etc.


Stay Healthy and Live Long

We at MedGuard are the leading suppliers of top-quality blood pressure monitors. We offer a comprehensive range of medical products and accessories, from BP machines to reusable cuffs. Understanding how crucial it is to keep track of blood pressure levels, we provide only top-quality machines. Our products go through rigorous testing before they are delivered to you. For more personalised guidance or queries, you can contact us today without any hesitation.

 

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