Patient was educated on the role of stress in the development of hypertension as follows:
- Stress can result in temporary elevation in blood pressure readings.
- Conditions affecting the blood pressure readings through stress can include situations such as loss of job, new job, pregnancy, divorce, white coat syndrome.
- This elevation of blood pressure numbers can only be temporary and return to normal levels, when the stress factor is relieved.
- But, prolonged exposure to stress without relief can bring some permanent changes that will potentiate the development of hypertension. This is more due to some unhealthy behaviors and habits that people in stress develop, to manage their stress. These behaviors include, smoking, alcohol intake, overeating, eating unhealthy foods high in salt and fat, excessive weight gain, and giving up on physical exercise.
- Over a course of time, even though the stress levels have returned to the normal, the unhealthy behaviors could continue and result in the person turning hypertensive.
- Also, stress results in release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, glucagon, and cortisol, which result in elevation of heart rate, constriction of the blood vessel lumen, and retention of water, all of which influence the blood pressure to be elevated.
