Do you have hypertension? Are you under a lot of stress? If you said Yes to both of these questions, chances are good that the two are interrelated. Read on to find out how the two are connected and how you can reduce both stress and your blood pressure at the same time.

Hypertension can be dangerous. It can put you at risk for a seemingly endless array of serious health problems, from stroke, heart attack, artery damage, kidney damage, and even vision problems and erectile dysfunction. High blood pressure is a serious matter indeed.

And the drugs you might be asked to take can be dangerous as well. So it's a very good idea to look for ways to reduce your blood pressure as much as possible with other means so you might be able to cut down on your meds or maybe even eliminate them altogether.

Or, if you're lucky, you catch your blood pressure on the way up and can get it under control before you even have to start taking medication. That would be a best case scenario.

Stress And High Blood Pressure

So what can cause high blood pressure. In this article, I'm not going to discuss the whole range of possible causes, but focus on just one key cause: stress. This one key cause, however, is a big factor that contributes greatly to the rise in blood pressure, directly through physiological changes, or indirectly through its accompanying lifestyle changes.

That's because stress generally causes people to eat less healthfully, to sleep less regularly, as they lie tossing and turning instead of getting the rest they need. All those things can lead to weight gain, and that in turn also contributes to a higher risk for hypertension.

It's quite easy to see how stress is right at the top of the list when it comes to things that can trigger hypertension or make it worse, or keep it from getting better. In fact, it's probably even more of a problem than caffeine or salt (unless you're consuming a huge amount of either of these).

How Can Stress Cause Hypertension -- or Make It Worse?

So how does stress cause hypertension or make it worse? I'm sure you're familiar with the fight and flight impulse. In a crisis situation, your body gets you ready to fight -- or flee. That causes physiological processes that pump out all sorts of chemicals that will temporarily raise your blood pressure, among other things.

Back when our ancestors had to survive the occasional saber tiger attack, this might have worked nicely. Every now and then, they encountered life-threatening situations where fight or flight was called for. Once they survived those situations, they were able to relax for quite a while, until another saber tiger wanted to eat them for dinner. And when that happened, it was time for another round of fighting or fleeing.

These days, however, we hardly ever get breaks anymore. While there may be peak moments of stress, the valleys are far and few between. Mostly, we're trying to keep up with deadlines most of the time, and stress is ongoing.

Unfortunately, our bodies weren't designed for that. So our stress response wears out. And our blood pressure rises and rises.

What Can You Do to Lower Your Stress -- and Your Blood Pressure?

You could start by reducing the stress in your life. That's a great plan, but unfortunately, it's easier said than done.

So what else can you do? You can try to tame your stress response. After all, it's your reaction to the various situations in your life that is causing the real problem.

How Can You Reduce the Stress in Your Life?

There are a variety of ways to reduce stress, from deep breathing to taking time out to journaling to aromatherapy and herbs. And that's just for starters.

There is one particular highly effective technique, called EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique, that you can learn quickly and use alone or, better, in conjunction with some of the other stress relief techniques.

It's basically acupuncture without needles. Instead, you tap on a series of spots while repeating certain statements, and it will help reduce stress and also a range of other aggravating emotions. And as your stress melts, your body will relax as well, and that will help bring your blood pressure down as well.