Stress Related high BP

[etnas]

it's now been around 7 years now that I've been taking medication for Hypertension. The cause is not anything physical in that tests have shown NO hardening of the arteries, heart issues or kidneys. I've had so many tests including a CAT scan. ALL the tests I've had been negative. My high BP came on after I'd spent 9 weeks with my daughter following the unexpected and sudden death of her husband. It was an extremely emotional/stressful time. One of the worst symptoms for me is that I dream EVERY night never having a restful sleep. I believe that this is as a result of high Cortisol which also is causing my high BP. I'd dearly love for some-one to have info regarding the solution for the high Cortisol which is possibly resulting in my high BP. I have no choice but to take the medication but worry that it could have cause damage to my veins and arteries because physical problems were not the cause of my problem. Please is there anyone out there experiencing the same problem?

[ETHEL103]

I have awful dreams every night and my watch tells me my hr is also up high.I can recall every dream in detail.Its just awful isn't it .I wake up every 2 hours through the night too.

[LInnieOAP]

Hello, I’m a 69 year old female and had a traumatic hospitalisation in China with riots going on too and a terrible journey home after a long stay before I was fit to travel. I had to have my BP treated and it was all over the place. I tried hard to recover but really never did, nightmares were frequent and sleeping difficult then all kinds of physical symptoms happened. Diarrhoea, excess urination, extreme tiredness, panic attacks,, agrophobia, claustrophobia and it came to a head when I tried to leave a moving car.

I was screened for Heart disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis all over lockdown in the UK so very slow progress.

It took 2 and a half years for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) to be diagnosed and at no time did anyone suggest this might be the case.

I was given a 5 day course of sleeping tablets, then Sertraline an antidepressant and to tackle the elevated Corsitol /Adrenaline. Cognitive behavioural therapy helped enormously to understand and tackle the negate the physical symptoms by understanding the mental aspects.

I’m 8 months into treatment and I still have issues to tackle. Blood Pressure is stabilising.

I’m suggesting I suppose that you have had a terrible shock from which you have not really properly recovered. Being strong and helping family often results in us not relaxing ourselves. Do you have anyone to talk to, sometimes an independent person who is not involved daily in your life can help enormously.

Also maybe review your BP medication it may not be suiting you, particularly if you are feeling overtired.

I do hope you don’t feel I’ve spoken out of turn as it may be what I’ve gone through does not apply to you at all.

I wish you well and I know health services wherever you live are difficult at the moment but you have to be a bit persistent if you’ve struggled for such a long time and lack of sleep for a longterm is really bad for you.

Very Best Wishes, Linnie