Mental Health, Wellness

How Does High Blood Pressure Cause Mental Health Issues?

Written By

Jagruti Rehab

Last Updated on: 09 May 2025

Nearly 1 in 3 Indian adults has high blood pressure. Some link mental illness to stress, trauma, or genetics, few know that long-term high blood pressure is associated with anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment.

Studies show that hypertension increases the risk of developing dementia by up to 60%. Top psychiatric hospitals in Mumbai emphasise that high blood pressure impacts the body as well as the mind. This blog will take you through the impact of hypertension on your brain, the two-way relationship between mental health and high blood pressure.

What Is High Blood Pressure Or Hypertension?

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition of the heart where the force of blood against the artery walls is extremely high. A blood pressure reading that is above 140/90 is considered hypertension.

And how does it affect your brain exactly? Or is blood pressure related to mental health? Yes, A person diagnosed with high blood pressure is at risk of damaging tiny blood vessels that are actively used for cognition and memory. In turn, it multiplies the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is sometimes referred to as a "silent killer" since it typically has no apparent symptoms until it's severe. Nevertheless, some individuals can experience:

• Recurring headaches
• Dizziness or blurred vision
• Chest pain or irregular heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue or confusion
• Nosebleeds (in extreme situations)

Risk Factors of High Blood Pressure

A number of factors raise the risk of hypertension:

• Risk rises with age
• Family history of high blood pressure
• Being overweight or obese
• Inactivity
• Poor diet, particularly high in salt and low in potassium
• Chronic stress
• Smoking and alcohol consumption
• Underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or kidney disease

Link Between High Blood Pressure And Mental Health

The relationship between high blood pressure and mental health is apparent in the conditions below:

Unhealthy Lifestyle

Indulging in adulterants that may temporarily sate your mental health is detrimental to your body in the long run. It increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, which leads to a vicious cycle of addiction and one’s attempts to deal with it.

High blood pressure can make people sweat more often, have severe mood swings, and have an elevated level of anger.

Elevated Stress Levels

Hypertension increases the level of stress-inducing chemicals that circulate in your blood. This is also a two-way relationship where the more chemicals, the higher your blood pressure is.

Stress is a baseline for most mental health disorders. Treatment of hypertension is highly advised by experts at the rehabilitation centre in Mumbai as it leads to the improvement of both one’s quality of life and mental health.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

The causes of high blood pressure can be characterised by these points:

• Being overweight leads to a high risk of hypertension.
• Consumption of copious amounts of salt leads to a much higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
• An unhealthy lifestyle of intoxicants like alcohol and cigarettes is fatal as it can be. They are one of the most common reasons why people get a lot of health issues, including mental health issues.
• Having an unhealthy diet and indulging in a lot of junk food is fatal to one’s health and leads to a higher risk of high blood pressure.
• It is also a fact that having a history of high blood pressure diagnosed within the family can increase your chances of having high blood pressure.
• Old age comes with susceptibility.
• Having disturbed sleep is one of the many causes.

Foods Helpful In Controlling Hypertension

• Tomato
• Carrot
• Banana
• Quinoa
• Berries
• Kiwi
• Broccoli
• Pulses
• Pistachio
• Fat-free yogurt
• Oats
• Various Leafy vegetables
• Watermelon

Treatment for High Blood Pressure

Treatment of hypertension needs to involve both medical therapy and lifestyle modification.

Treatment typically consists of:

• Medications such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, or diuretics that are prescribed by a doctor
• Exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight
• Decreased salt consumption
• Restriction of alcohol and cessation of smoking
• Stress reduction methods like meditation or therapy

Mental assistance is important, as stress and anxiety tend to exacerbate elevated blood pressure. Mental hospitals in Mumbai tend to incorporate psychiatric intervention into treatment programs for hypertension.

Prevention of High Blood Pressure

Preventing hypertension begins with healthy living:

• Consume a healthy diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Reduce sodium to below 2,300 mg a day
• Be active (at least 30 minutes most days)
• Keep your weight healthy
• Quit smoking and consume alcohol in moderation
• Sleep sufficiently (7–8 hours nightly)

How Can a Mental Hospital in Mumbai Help?

The best Mental hospital in Mumbai offers both in-house and outpatient programs. Outpatient programs provide you with more freedom so that you can continue your job and also take care of your family. There are two categories of outpatient programs for treatment:

• Daily check-in program.
• Day Treatment program.

However, the most structured treatment plan is inpatient care. Mental hospitals provide you with a distraction-free space to heal. An inpatient facility's regular day may include the following:

• Sessions of individual therapy.
• Sessions of group therapy.
• Spiritual support, etc.

With prolonged mental illness, the physical and emotional health becomes worse as well. It's better to consult the best psychiatric hospital in Mumbai if you’re suffering from mental health issues.

During treatment, patients receive psychological, behavioural, and other therapies. This kind of therapy, along with post-treatment elements like mutual support groups, will instruct and reinforce coping mechanisms that can be used to lead fulfilling lives free from mental issues.

Tips To Tackle Mental Health

There are a few vital steps to follow when you’re suffering from mental illness.

• Understand and analyse your condition.
• Prepare yourself to take a hard step.
• Contact a qualified doctor or treatment program that can help you with mental issues.
• Change your environment.
• Understand the benefits of being sober.
• Identify the things that trigger you to do unusual things.
• Exercise Daily.
• Consult the experts at the best rehabilitation centre in Mumbai
• Accept the Past.
• Embrace the future with no intention of returning to any harmful addictions.

To keep one’s mind healthy, one’s body should be healthy too. Take the first initiative. Get active and lose weight. Cut down on intoxicants and eat more fruits. This is how one can hope to achieve a healthy physical and mental lifestyle.

Final Word

Hypertension can have a significant impact on both your physical and mental well-being. Over time, it may harm your brain, damage memory and thinking capacity, and diminish your quality of life. However, with prompt intervention, changes in lifestyle, and professional mental health guidance, you can overcome hypertension as well as its psychological consequences.

That's where Jagruti Rehab steps in. With outlets in major cities, we provide expert psychiatric treatment customised to your requirements.

Jagruti Rehab Centres in India

Author

Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre is a leading facility specializing in mental health, dementia, and addiction recovery. The team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and caregivers is committed to empowering individuals on their journey to recovery.