Is there a causal relationship of anxiety, stress or cardiovascular reactivity to hypertension?

Abstract

Cardiovascular responses constantly occur in the waking state, whether or not associated with perceived stress, and any type of emotional arousal similarly raises the blood pressure. Differences during all types of emotions are largely quantitative, and there does not appear to be any specificity of sympathoadrenal response to emotional stress. These responses may be physiological and homeostatic, rather than psychologically reactive and do not provide evidence to support causal roles for anxiety, stress and cardiovascular reactivity in the pathogenesis of sustained hypertension.

Peripheral and brachial blood pressure during standardized occupation-related tests in normotensive and mild hypertensive men and women

“…Thus, the peripheral BP measurement is an additional possibility for assessment of the hyperreactivity which has been suggested as a pathophysiological mechanism in the development of cardiovascular diseases, especially of essential hypertension (Fredrikson 1991;Light et al 1992;Matthews et al 1993). The assessments in the literature of the clinical importance of hyperreactivity based on brachial BP can be seen to be contradictory (Freeman 1990;Rosenman and Hjemdahl 1991). In this context it is of interest to know whether brachial and peripheral BP react in the same way in normotensives and hypertensives when the body is faced with dierent kinds of demand.…”

Cardiovascular reactivity and family history of hypertension: A meta‐analysis

“…Although many studies report a significant effect of family history status on cardiovascular reactivity (e.g., Lawler et al, 1998), the literature is complicated by a large number of negative findings (Muldoon, Terrell, Bunker, & Manuck, 1993; Pickering & Gerin, 1990) and inconsistency regarding the testing conditions under which family history differences in reactivity are most prominent (Muldoon et al, 1993). These inconsistencies have led several authors to question the role of exaggerated reactivity to stress as a causal factor in the development of hypertension (Pickering & Gerin, 1990; Rosenman & Hjemdahl, 1991). Other researchers argue that sufficient evidence of family history differences in cardiovascular reactivity exists to warrant further clarification of its place in the causal chain of events leading to hypertension (e.g., Schneiderman et al, 2000).…”

Cardiovascular reactivity and family history of hypertension: A meta-analysis

“…Although many studies report a significant effect of family history status on cardiovascular reactivity (e.g., Lawler et al, 1998), the literature is complicated by a large number of negative findings (Muldoon, Terrell, Bunker, & Manuck, 1993;Pickering & Gerin, 1990) and inconsistency regarding the testing conditions under which family history differences in reactivity are most prominent (Muldoon et al, 1993). These inconsistencies have led several authors to question the role of exaggerated reactivity to stress as a causal factor in the development of hypertension (Pickering & Gerin, 1990;Rosenman & Hjemdahl, 1991). Other researchers argue that sufficient evidence of family history differences in cardiovascular reactivity exists to warrant further clarification of its place in the causal chain of events leading to hypertension (e.g., Schneiderman et al, 2000).…”