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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is High BP Reading During A Panic Attack A Concern?

If your blood pressure goes up this high during a panic attack, is it considered a hypertensive crisis? Or is a hypertensive crisis only when you have chronic high blood pressure, you go really long without treating it, it spikes super high and it doesn t go back down on its own? My blood pressure went up to 183/104 during a panic attack the other night.. It goes back down when I calm down though. I have hypochondria/health anxiety and that s one thing I worry about when I m having a panic attack and it causes me to panic even more. I keep thinking that my blood pressure is going to cause me a brain hemorrhage or a heart attack or something... My blood pressure is usually normal, even below normal sometimes. I went to the hospital one night for a panic attack because it felt like something was wrong with me and I felt like I was dying, they checked my blood pressure and my systolic pressure was in the 170 s range. They shot me with benadryl, I knocked out, after I woke up they took my blood pressure again and it was 109/58. Can blood pressure go up that high during an attack? If so, can it kill me?
posted on Wed, 21 Dec 2016
Twitter Thu, 23 Feb 2017 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 23 Feb 2017 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,
Thank you for asking your question at healthcare magic

Hypertensive crisis refers to sudden increase in blood pressure usually above 180/120 resulting in damage to organs.
The blood pressure increase you had is due to the episode of panic attack and the chances of damage to organs is much less than in the context of chronic hypertension.While having an episode of panic attack, the blood level of adrenaline shoots up resulting in increased blood pressure.
I recommend that you should follow up with your doctor to rule out any underlying chronic hypertension and management of panic attacks.Panic attack is best treated by combination of psychotherapy and medication like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Hope I was able to answer your question
Please feel free to address any more concerns,
Regards,
Dr.Lekshmi
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Is High BP Reading During A Panic Attack A Concern?

Hello, Thank you for asking your question at healthcare magic Hypertensive crisis refers to sudden increase in blood pressure usually above 180/120 resulting in damage to organs. The blood pressure increase you had is due to the episode of panic attack and the chances of damage to organs is much less than in the context of chronic hypertension.While having an episode of panic attack, the blood level of adrenaline shoots up resulting in increased blood pressure. I recommend that you should follow up with your doctor to rule out any underlying chronic hypertension and management of panic attacks.Panic attack is best treated by combination of psychotherapy and medication like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Hope I was able to answer your question Please feel free to address any more concerns, Regards, Dr.Lekshmi