Are Stress Effects on Blood Pressure
detrimental to our health?

Are you "stressed out"? Are you suffering from high blood pressure?
If you have both these symptoms together, they could be related.

High blood pressure is on the rise in America, the UK, and other locations around the globe, but there seems to be more emphasis on diet as the culprit than other equally important contributing factors such as high blood pressure related stress.

We are being told to watch our salt intake; eat less saturated fats; check for hydrogenated oils; and the list goes on and on. Focussing too much on what we eat will only cause us to worry and get “stressed out" on top of all the other daily troubles that plague us, is it not? What do you think? Can excess stress cause high blood pressure? If so, what impact does stress effects on blood pressure have, and is it detrimental to our health?

This concept of high blood pressure related stress isn’t new. We have been hearing about how bad stress effects on blood pressure, or other vital bodily functions, can have for as long as I can remember. Take for instance, in 1958, two-thirds of the deer population died on James Island in Chesapeake Bay over a two year period. You may be wondering what deer have to do with stress and high blood pressure.

In the Doomsday Book, British ecologist Gordon Taylor said that the adrenal glands of the deer were much enlarged, and the cell structure confirmed the idea that their deaths were stress related. He further explained that the adrenals become enlarged in response to continued stressful conditions, and predicted a similar situation for humans as they become more pressurised from overpopulated conditions, and isn’t it just so? The stress effects on blood pressure are beginning to show on a scale of epidemic proportions, and that is no exaggeration. There are blood pressure screenings available everywhere.

Current research reflects similar findings that not only does adrenalin and corticosterone increase with repeated stress, causing high blood pressure and enlarged adrenalin glands, but can also lead to heart disease, stroke and other diseases. Patients who have suffered heart attacks have been recorded as having worked more hours, and experienced more home and financial stress.

Not only can stress effects on blood pressure be accounted for causing some heart conditions, but other diseases sometimes can also be traced back to stress, as Psychiatrist, Dr. Eberhard H. Uhlenhuth, at the university of Chicago revealed in a health forum lecture. He made it clear that growing evidence indicated stress as a major player in the cause of most of man’s illnesses, from the common cold to heart attacks. He said “While there are other factors involved in causing illness, it is quite clear that stress plays a triggering role”.

We need to “take to heart” the evidence that stress effects on blood pressure levels can trigger major problems.

Stess Management for Health.com is an interesting website that gives a wide range of illnesses that stress can trigger or aggravate, including cardiovascular problems.

Does the future hold out for us a better, stress free world? Or are we doomed to ever failing, over crowded, under funded, health care systems?

The historic record breeds in us a lack of confidence that things could really change. We seem to be loosing that burning zeal to keep trying, and present day statistics only put the dampeners on that already smouldering wick.

Adding to that, we have prophetic evidence in the most ancient of books, the Holy Bible. Did not Divine providence tell us that we would experience "critical times, hard to deal with”? This must inevitably heighten the stress effects on blood pressure. (2 Timothy 3:1) Until Divine intervention obliterates all problems causing stress and worry, it would be wise then at present, to take a measure of control over our own lives.

Read the list underneath, and see where you can make some changes, to significantly lessen the stress effects on blood pressure.

Here is further excellent information all about stress and how to regain control of your life.

Although not directly mentioning the stress effects on blood pressure, I’d like to include a few words of wisdom from the late Dr. Alsaker out of his health journal “Maintaining Health”. He says,

”Confirmed worriers will worry about the weather, the past, the present, the future, about work and about play, about food, clothing and drink, about those who are present and those who are absent. Nothing escapes them and they bring sadness and woe in their wake.

Worry is slow suicide.”

Considering what we have learned so far about the stress effects on blood pressure , I don’t doubt that statement.

He continues, “It is futile employment, for it never does any good, and it reacts evilly upon the one who indulges in it, and those with whom he associates. It is a waist of time and energy. The energy thus used could be directed into useful channels.

Let those who are afflicted with this bad and annoying habit get into good physical condition. Then many of the worries will take wing. If they persist, it would be well to face the matter frankly and honestly, setting down the advantages of worrying on one side and the disadvantages on the other. Then take into consideration that not one thing in a thousand worried about happens, and if something disagreeable does occur, worrying cannot prevent it. Besides a disagreeable happening now and then will not cause half of the discomfort and trouble that a disturbed mind does.” Sounds like good advice to me!

High blood pressure related stress? Would you say it was detrimental to your health? I certainly think so, and as long as stressful conditions are prevalent, high blood pressure will be on the rise. Fortunately for those who listen, controlling the stress effects on blood pressure should not present a problem. Yes, controlling our blood pressure is within our reach. We do have a bright future, but yours depends on what you’re willing to do to make the change!

(This excerpt is taken from his book Maintaining Health by R. L. Alsaker. This is a re-written work placed within the Public Domain.)

Gem.