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Nerve disease: doctors talked about the risk of developing hypertension due to anxiety
The World Day against Arterial Hypertension, which is considered one of the most dangerous chronic diseases, is celebrated on May 17. In Russia, it affects more than 40% of the adult population, while doctors say it is increasingly common in young people due to high anxiety, low mobility and excess weight. Izvestia found out what factors can lead to the development of hypertension and how to protect yourself from it.
The risk factor
Worries and stress increase the risk of hypertension, including in young people. Other risk factors for them may be overweight and low mobility, Vladimir Glagolev, a cardiologist at the European Medical Center (EMC), warned in a conversation with Izvestia.
— Anxiety provokes the release of catecholamines (adrenaline, norepinephrine) and cortisol, which constrict blood vessels, increase heart rate and increase blood pressure. Chronic stress activates a cascade of hormones that lead to sodium and water retention in the body, increasing the volume of circulating blood, which increases the load on the heart. Stress also suppresses the parasympathetic nervous system, which is usually responsible for relaxing blood vessels and lowering heart rate," the source explained.
Anna Korendyukhina, a psychiatrist and chief physician at the Mental Heath Center, added that the effect of stress on the body depends on how often and intensely a person experiences it.
— The reactions described above are evolutionarily conditioned and are not dangerous in themselves. But if a person lives in a constant state of anxious tension, for example, with generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD or depression with an anxious component, the load on the cardiovascular system becomes chronic. This can lead to a violation of pressure regulation and eventually to its persistent increase," she explained.
In addition, the psychiatrist added, patients with anxiety disorders often develop behavioral patterns that increase the risk of hypertension: smoking, overeating, alcohol abuse, insomnia. All these are significant factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases.
— It is important to understand that anxiety is not always pathological. But if it becomes a constant background of life, disrupts sleep, behavior and physical condition, it already requires medical attention," the Izvestia interlocutor emphasized.
A dangerous disease
Hypertension is considered one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, and Russia is no exception. According to the Russian Society of Cardiology, 30-45% of the adult population is affected by the disease, and the prevalence of hypertension reaches 60% in people over the age of 60. At the same time, men suffer from high blood pressure more often than women (44.8% versus 33.9%). Women, in turn, are more aware of the diagnosis (82.3% versus 71.5% for men), receive treatment more often (72.3% versus 53.3%) and control blood pressure better (48.2% versus 37.4%).
— The danger of high blood pressure is that it increases the risk of developing a number of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), for example, myocardial infarction, heart failure and increases the risk of stroke, causing the development of arrhythmia and chronic renal failure. CVD is the leader in the mortality structure of the population both in Russia and around the world," says Vladimir Glagolev.
At the same time, adds David Dundua, cardiologist, cardioncologist, head of the Department of Cardiology at the Academy of Postgraduate Education of the FNCC of the FMBA of Russia, the number of Russians with hypertension is growing every year. According to Rosstat, 18.5 million people were diagnosed in 2022, which is 13% more than in 2020. The increase is explained by several factors at once: first of all, the population is actively aging, and age is one of the risk factors for hypertension. In addition, according to the Minister of Health, about 40 million Russians are obese, which also contributes to high blood pressure.
The development of the disease is also influenced by a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition (especially with a lot of salt), smoking, including electronic cigarettes, and alcohol consumption. An increased level of anxiety also plays a significant role — according to surveys by the same Rosstat, 11.4% of Russians constantly experience stress.
— To summarize, we can say that people over the age of 60, with diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney diseases are at risk. However, hypertension has been increasingly diagnosed in young people lately, and the causes may already be obesity, sedentary work, and increased stress and nervous stress," concludes cardiologist Vladimir Glagolev.
The impact of stress
Research on how anxiety and anxiety disorder affect the development of hypertension is conducted all over the world. According to analysts at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high levels of anxiety can increase the risk of myocardial infarction by almost two times, and the likelihood of sudden death by more than four times. According to the study "Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors in the regions of the Russian Federation" (ESSAY-RF3), women with high levels of anxiety, depression and stress have an increased risk of hypertension: the risk is 1.09 times higher with anxiety, 1.14 times higher with depression and 1.14 times higher with stress. At the same time, this relationship is less pronounced in men.
In the Kometa study, which was conducted in 30 Russian cities in 2016-2017 and included 2,775 patients aged 55 to 96 years, hypertension was diagnosed in 60.8% of participants. At the same time, one in four (25.5%) patients had clinically pronounced anxiety symptoms, and one in five (21.7%) had subclinical anxiety.
— There is definitely a connection between anxiety, stress and hypertension. These mental states negatively affect the entire body, especially affecting the cardiovascular system. And this connection can be two—way: anxiety can increase with an increase in blood pressure, as patients may notice symptoms in the form of palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, which only increases their worries, says Vladimir Glagolev.
At the same time, the doctor notes, hypertension can be asymptomatic, that is, a person has no headache, no tinnitus, no dizziness and other clinical manifestations. Therefore, young people may not even consider the possibility of having high blood pressure.
Methods of protection
In order to protect yourself from hypertension, doctors urge you to follow the rules of its prevention. David Dundua refers to them:
• a healthy diet with a restriction of table salt, fats and sugar;
• regular physical activity (walking and strength training for at least 30 minutes a day);
• Weight control and maintaining a normal body weight;
• Alcohol restriction and smoking cessation;
Stress management: relaxation, meditation, breathing exercises;
• control of blood sugar and cholesterol levels;
• Regular medical checkups and blood pressure monitoring;
• follow the doctor's recommendations if there is a predisposition or early manifestations of arterial hypertension. You should not stop taking medications to normalize blood pressure if non-medicinal methods of lowering blood pressure are ineffective.
If a person is unable to solve problems on their own (for example, to lose weight), it is worth contacting specialists. The same applies to dealing with stress.
— Of course, it is impossible to completely get rid of it, but you need to learn how to respond to it correctly and, if possible, reduce its impact on life. It won't be superfluous to work with a psychologist, attend relaxing treatments (spa, massage), practice meditation, yoga, and even your favorite hobbies that will help you distract yourself and adjust," adds cardiologist Vladimir Glagolev.
Psychiatrist Anna Korendyukhina recommends following an integrated approach: combining treatment of the disease (if a person is diagnosed with hypertension) with concern for mental and physical health in general.
"Psychotherapy, correction of anxiety disorders, and stress reduction techniques should be part of the approach," she concludes.
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