High levels of stress can lead to a temporary increase in blood pressure. Stress-related habits such as eating more, using tobacco or drinking alcohol can lead to further increases in blood pressure.
Sudden high blood pressure can be caused by factors including excessive sodium consumption, increased caffeine intake, stress, medicines like NSAIDs and decongestants, smoking, drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine, excessive alcohol consumption, pain or injury, and underlying health issues.
Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if: Your blood pressure is much higher than normal (such as 180/110 or higher), but you don't have symptoms. You think high blood pressure is causing symptoms, such as: Severe headache.
Stage 2 high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/110 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away. A reading this high is considered “hypertensive crisis.” Readings between 120/80 and 129/89 are considered pre-hypertension.
Sleeping on the left side is the best sleeping position for high blood pressure, as it relieves pressure on the blood vessels that return blood to the heart. These vessels are located on the right side of the body and can be compressed by slowing its circulation if you sleep on your right side.”
Still, you can make lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down. Something as simple as keeping yourself hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day improves blood pressure. Water makes up 73% of the human heart,¹ so no other liquid is better at controlling blood pressure.
Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke.
Moderate or severe headaches, anxiety, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, palpitations, or feeling of pulsations in the neck are some signs of high blood pressure. Often, these are late signs that high blood pressure has existed for some time, therefore annual checks are recommended for all adults.
Blood pressure readings above 180/120 mmHg are considered stroke-level, dangerously high, and require immediate medical attention.
Insomnia is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. Over time, poor sleep can also lead to unhealthy habits that can hurt your heart, including higher stress levels, less motivation to be physically active, and unhealthy food choices.
In other words, once blood pressure rises above normal, subtle but harmful brain changes can occur rather quickly—perhaps within a year or two. And those changes may be hard to reverse, even if blood pressure is nudged back into the normal range with treatment.
Anxiety doesn't cause long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary spikes in blood pressure.
Some research suggests coffee can lower the risk for high blood pressure, also called hypertension, in people who don't already have it. But drinking too much coffee has been shown to raise blood pressure and lead to anxiety, heart palpitations and trouble sleeping.
If your blood pressure is very high—higher than 160/100, or when either number is higher—you don't have a decision to make. You definitely need medicine to lower your blood pressure.
Symptoms of Severe High Blood Pressure
Fatigue or confusion. Vision problems. Chest pain. A hard time breathing.
High blood pressure symptoms in women can be subtle
Headaches. Fatigue. Shortness of breath. Chest discomfort.
“Consuming diets with adequate magnesium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure (hypertension).
Bananas. These are rich in potassium, a nutrient shown to help lower blood pressure, says Laffin.
Drinking more than 4 cups of coffee a day may increase your blood pressure. If you're a big fan of coffee, tea or other caffeine-rich drinks, such as cola and some energy drinks, consider cutting down.
It's important to note that you could have hypertension even if you feel fine because it generally doesn't cause symptoms. High blood pressure tends to develop gradually over a period of years, so you shouldn't be misled by the lack of symptoms, says Dr. Turner.