Ridiculous blood pressure scores?

[NoPoet]

Hi all,

I've been suffering from very high and sustained levels of anx and stress these last 2-3 weeks. My blood pressure scores in the last week range from high normal (once), to moderate hypertension (several times).

Does anyone know how much the effects of stress and anxiety can affect bp?

I'm also on anti-arthritis meds which can raise bp, and I have been eating unhealthily for, er, 35 years.

[Daniele_T]

Mine read 150/130 the other morning and scared me witless

I'm 37, I smoke and drink about 40 units a week and am pretty athletic so yeah...anxiety can cause silly bp...I hope

[NoPoet]

Bloody hell, that was one impressive score. I've been thinking for a while that most people whose blood pressure seems ridiculous will probably be either too anxious or too stressed when they measure it. That kind of blood pressure doesn't suggest an actual problem, it suggests the body is running in emergency mode.

My doctor told me that my scores reflect anxiety/stress. When he measured it I got 137/85, my lowest score for a while. Typical!