What is the likelihood that high blood pressure is caused by anxiety? -

My boyfriend is 26 and has moderately high blood pressure, in the pre-hypertension stages. In addition to that, he regularly has a resting heartrate of 90-100 beats/min, despite the fact that he s fit and healthy. He s been on a couple of different medications with limited results and lots of side effects (nausea, shaking, tired), and now his doctor says it s an anxiety problem. The first doctor he saw for this problem also thought it was an anxiety problem. So he visited a psychologist, and after several visits the psychologist said that he did not have an anxiety disorder, just the occasional anxiety that anyone would have. But his main dr still believes there is an anxiety issue and is now referring him to a psychiatrist. The reason it doesn t make sense is that he is a very relaxed, very chill person. He has had full heart screens, thyroid tests, and an EKG, etc., all of which have been normal. Is there something that the doctors are missing? How can this make sense?

If he checks out, he checks out. Having high blood pressure could also be a genetic trait inherited from his parents. Is he really fit and healthy ? Does he moderately exercise at least 3 times a week? He s 26, is he eating properly? Abnormally high BP is often treated with beta-blockers, mild for patients without a significant history of a cardiac problems. I m somewhat shocked to see that he d experience such adverse reactions to medication prescribed for BP around PH stages. Not to be any way condescending, but how are you judging and measuring his BP? If the sole basis is on the supermarket BP test or really anything not performed by a HCP, I wouldn t cause too much panic, they are often wrong. If there s no history in the immediate family of cardiac issues and having a slightly abnormally high BP is really all that s on the table, it s certainally manageable. He d need to find a decent regiment of a mild BB (perscribed by a doctor) and make sure to eat and execise properly, paying attention to any sharp pains in the chest, dizziness, or shortness of breath (to which you should go to the hospital immediately). Response to above: I had to ask the above, and hope I didn t offend. If you are truly unsatisfied with the results given to you by the doctor, take him to see a Cardiologist/get a second opinoin. Is there any history in the family of cardiac disease/abnormal high BP? How high in PH are the readings typically? What was perscribed to treat the BP? I really, earnestly believe it s something to take notice about and to monitor, espcially considering the amount of exercise and profession he s in (which, admitedly sounds stressful) but I do not think he needs to see a shrink for an anxiety disorder nor do I think is life threathening.

Stress can cause that. I have anxiety attacks, but i take xanax and it helps. Good luck... ;-))