What is the relationship between essential hypertension and stress?
What will be an ideal response?
Essential hypertension (HTN), known by most simply as high blood pressure, is a chronic condition with no known organic cause that is characterized by systolic blood pressure (SBP) (the top number when blood pressure is reported) of 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (the bottom number when blood pressure is reported) of 90 mm Hg or higher. This condition is related to increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI), congestive heart failure, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease since it can result in structural changes in the blood vessels and heart.
Hypertensives are documented to have higher levels of circulating catecholamines suggesting overall higher sympathetic nervous system reactivity to stressors. In their meta-analytic review of behavioral stress and hypertension, Fredrikson and Matthews determined that individuals with HTN show "exaggerated blood pressure responses to all stressors" irrespective of their psychological elements. Thus, it appears that HTN individuals display hormonal changes and blood pressure changes indicative of exaggerated physiological reactions to stress.
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