Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure?
Medically reviewed by Faith Coleman, University of New Mexico School of Medicine on August 21st, 2026.
Yes, anxiety can temporarily raise blood pressure through your body's fight-or-flight response. When you feel anxious, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which cause your heart to beat faster and blood vessels to narrow. This can increase systolic blood pressure (the top number) by 10-20 mmHg during acute anxiety episodes. However, anxiety alone doesn't typically cause chronic high blood pressure. Research shows that while anxiety attacks can create short-term spikes in blood pressure, long-term hypertension usually results from other factors like diet, genetics, or underlying health conditions. If you experience frequent anxiety, with or without blood pressure concerns, see your healthcare provider.
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