Does Stress Cause High Blood Pressure? Managing Heart Health as You Age

An article published in the National Library of Medicine High reports that high blood pressure, or hypertension, affects 70% of adults over 65. However, while it's undoubtedly prevalent, it's not an inevitable part of aging. Many factors that cause it are modifiable.

One such factor is stress, the body's inherent reaction to challenges and perceived threats.

So, how exactly does stress cause high blood pressure? What's the connection between the two, and what are effective wellness strategies for older adults to help them manage both?

The team at Addington Place of Des Moines, our senior living community in Des Moines, IA, created this guide to provide insights into all those questions, so please read on.

How Does Stress Cause High Blood Pressure?

Stress, which arises from difficult or problematic situations, usually causes acute (short-term) and temporary high blood pressure. It "prompts" the body's "fight or flight" response, preparing people to face (fight) or run away (flee) from threats or challenges they encounter.

When the fight or flight response activates, the body releases stress hormones, including cortisol and epinephrine (adrenaline). They're natural chemicals and signaling molecules that prompt many physiological changes.

Cortisol, for instance, does the following:

Raises the blood glucose (sugar) levels in the bloodstream
Increases the brain's glucose usage
Boosts the availability of tissue-repairing substances in the body

On the other hand, epinephrine can:

Increase blood pressure
Make the heart beat faster
Increase energy levels

Blood pressure levels should supposedly normalize once a person addresses the stressor or the threat disappears. Unfortunately, even though stress is a natural physiological (bodily) response, it can be a health detriment if unmanaged, especially in the long run.

So, chronic, uncontrolled stress can contribute to long-term elevated blood pressure risks. From there, it can lead to other senior heart health, mental well-being, and cognitive problems.

What Is the Connection Between Long-Term Stress and Chronic Hypertension?

Long-term stress is chronic stress that persists for days, months, and sometimes even years.

Older adults with long-term health problems may experience chronic stress as they constantly worry about their future and independence. According to the National Council on Aging, 95% of adults 60+ have at least one of these conditions, while almost 80% have two or more. Interestingly, high blood pressure is the most common.

The loss of a dear loved one, such as a spouse, can also result in long-term stress. Likewise, loss of independence, such as the inability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), may cause seniors to experience ongoing distress.

Over time, all those chronic stresses can contribute to hypertension, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Prolonged stress can also put a person at a higher risk for:

Adverse changes in the brain
Formation of clog-causing deposits in the arteries
Obesity
Mental health problems, including anxiety and depression

Chronic stress may also encourage unhealthy habits that increase one's risk for hypertension. For example, eating unhealthy foods and consuming too much caffeine or alcohol. In addition, older adults who constantly feel stressed may neglect or choose not to exercise.

Stress Busters and Relaxation Techniques for Seniors

Managing stress in aging can help reduce the risks of developing hypertension. For those who already have high blood pressure, stress management can help control it. Plus, engaging in stress-busting, relaxation-inducing techniques can help enhance older adults' overall health and well-being in other ways.

Here are some ways seniors in Des Moines, IA, can beat stress, manage blood pressure, and enjoy better wellness.

Spend More Time in Nature

Mayo Clinic says that, according to research, nature exposure can help regulate the sympathetic nervous system, sometimes even in just as little as five minutes! Its regulatory effects and benefits include:

Alleviating stress
Helping cope with mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression
Managing negative emotions like loneliness and irritability
Improving cognitive function, such as attention, memory, creativity, and even sleep quality

Spending time in nature also encourages movement and physical activity. Plus, it is a perfect way to stay social, as older adults can go on nature walks with family, friends, and pets. All these can further help reduce stress and blood pressure levels.

The good news is that seniors in Des Moines, IA, don't have to look far and wide to find beautiful nature spots. Here, there are many green spaces and parks, including:

Ewing Park and Dog Park
Easter Lake Park
Pond de Easter
Evergreen Park
Jordan Park
Fort Des Moines Park

Many of the beautiful, well-maintained, and pet-friendly parks mentioned above are just minutes from Addington Place of Des Moines, thanks to our convenient, centralized location at 5815 SE 27th Street, Des Moines, IA.

Find Peace of Mind in a Des Moines Senior Living Community

Alleviating stress in older adults is one of the primary goals of a reputable memory care and assisted living community in Des Moines, IA, and it does so by:

Offering structured, senior-centered wellness programs
Promoting social engagement
Providing highly attentive and tailored personal care and supportive services, especially for ADLs
Minimizing stress and worries about daily life, such as how and what to eat, home cleaning and maintenance, taking medications on time, etc.

At Addington Place of Des Moines, our senior living community in Des Moines, IA, we aim to make our residents' lives as comfortable and maintenance-free as possible so they can enjoy fewer stressors and worries. We take care of:

Weekly housekeeping and laundry
Regular apartment home maintenance
Round-the-clock personal care and support

We also have many exclusive senior living programs and amenities, from chef-prepared homestyle dining to exercise classes and stress-relieving crafting projects.

Manage Both Stress and Hypertension

Now that we've answered, "How does stress cause high blood pressure? " The next step is for seniors to take steps to manage both. Spending time in nature, engaging in physical and social activities, and transitioning to a senior living community can all help.

At Addington Place of Des Moines, our compassionate, highly experienced, and skilled team is always ready and happy to help our residents live maintenance-free lives with as little stress and worry as possible. With our 24/7 support, senior-centered physical fitness, social, and wellness programs, and proximity to nature parks, you'll find peace of mind, engagement, and relaxation here.

Call us today to book a tour and learn more about Addington Place of Des Moines!