Anxiety induced blood pressure

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Well Im grateful to see that im not the only one to walk by a bp monitor without my bp going up. I truly believe mine would be low if i was able to control my anxiety when taking my blood pressure . Once ive had a bad reading it sticks in my head and i cant get it out. Ive tried and continue to try deep breathing, meditation, prayer. i walk every day and eat well. I do everything i can to help myself . Other then visiting my primary care doctor who calms me , i cant do a consistent reading. I do not want to add a drug to calm me down just to do a reading. Anyone else walked away from taking their own?

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3 Replies

  • Edited

    Hi Karen,

    I have same issue during my bp reading, i usually do 5minutes calming and slow breathing before i take my measurement with display covered so i can't see the reading during the measuring, i also purchased blood pressure monitor with very silent motor which helps too. I usually take three measurements with 3minutes pause between each of the measurements and then i choose the best average from it. Bp machine causing me anxiety and when the digits are bad i am anxious from them too... I throw away one bp monitor before, i hate it, but i have to get the new one again, because my gp require my readings...

    When i am anxious, bp measurement is of course significantly higher, from my normal 130/80 it will spikes to 170/110, but when i take slow deep breaths for a couple of minutes during my anxiety, my bp gets down in minutes.

    I was using Magnesium glycinate supplement which helped to calm me down.

    • Posted

      sounds exactly what happened yesterday to me . the spike scared me and now im anxious just walking by my monitor. it leads me to believe by bp is under control until those episodes . I was hoping i'd never see a number like that while on bp meds! I even close my eyes while its reading Then i want to pass out when the number is high. I get upset with myself for mot being able to control it better !

    • Posted

      Try not to take blood pressure reading too often or when you are feeling anxious or nervous or smoking, its never good idea to do that, because digits will be of course higher, also don't take measurements after a meal for at least 30min., after bath for at least an hour or any activities or exercises, or before you need to use toilet or shortly after, do not talk during measurement, in cold or too hot weather, being disturbed, it all alter significantly blood pressure. Even if you drink a glass water and then you take a measurement it is also alter blood pressure. Sitting position, back relaxed on chair headrest, relaxed hand on table in line with your heart, it all matters.

      Best to take a blood pressure measurement is in the morning when you are calm and relaxed and then in the evening. During the day blood pressure will fluctuate a lot, so there is no consistent measurement during the day, day or night, blood pressure changes all the time.

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