Evidence suggests chronic pain can affect the mechanism that regulates blood pressure, causing blood pressure to become too high.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is when the pressure inside the blood vessels is consistently too high. Pain and hypertension often occur together.

A person getting their blood pressure measured in a hospital setting. -3Share on Pinterest
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As a 2020 study notes, persistent pain and high blood pressure often occur together.

Researchers investigated the prevalence of self-reported hypertension among 43,789 people seeking treatment from pain clinics in Australia.

Researchers found that hypertension:

  • was more common among people with persistent pain than people in the larger population
  • was associated with more severe pain
  • commonly occurred alongside pain-related health issues

Researchers note that biological factors, such as low baroreceptor sensitivity, may also play in the relationship between pain and hypertension.

The baroreflex is a homeostatic mechanism inside the body that helps regulate blood pressure. It relies on special receptors near the heart called baroreceptors, which monitor blood volume and blood pressure.

Chronic pain can reduce baroceptor sensitivity, causing blood pressure to rise.

As the study explains, certain factors may also increase a person’s risk of developing both chronic pain and hypertension. These include:

  • psychological factors, such as stress, anxiety, and depression
  • lifestyle factors, such as obesity and low levels of physical activity
  • social factors, such as isolation and unemployment

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following conditions and lifestyle factors may cause or contribute to high blood pressure:

  • elevated blood pressure
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • low physical activity
  • heavy alcohol use
  • a diet high in foods with a lot of sodium

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), high blood pressure rarely causes symptoms. The only way for a person to determine that they have high blood pressure is to measure it.

A doctor or pharmacist can measure a person’s blood pressure using a device called a blood pressure monitor.

Alternatively, people can purchase a blood pressure monitor online or from their local pharmacy and monitor their blood pressure at home.

What the numbers mean

Blood pressure monitors display two values:

  • Systolic pressure (the top number) denotes the force of the blood as it pumps out of the heart and into the arteries.
  • Diastolic pressure (the bottom number) denotes the force of the blood between heartbeats.

Both values are measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

According to the AHA, high blood pressure stage 1 is defined as a systolic value between 130 and 139 mm Hg or a diastolic value between 80 and 89 mm Hg.

A systolic value of 140 mm Hg or higher and a diastolic value of 90 mm Hg or higher indicates high blood pressure stage 2.

Figures higher than these indicate a hypertensive crisis, which is a medical emergency.

How to get an accurate reading

The AHA recommends taking two blood pressure readings in quick succession, especially if the first is higher than normal. A person should then note both readings and contact a doctor if they have any concerns.

Getting an official diagnosis

To officially diagnose high blood pressure, a doctor may request a person get their blood pressure checked on two or more visits. The doctor will then take the average of these readings.

To manage high blood pressure, people may need to make certain lifestyle changes. In some cases, doctors may also recommend medications to achieve and maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Lifestyle changes

The AHA recommends the following lifestyle changes to help manage high blood pressure:

  • eating a balanced, heart-healthy diet that is low in sodium
  • exercising regularly
  • achieving and maintaining a moderate weight
  • limiting alcohol intake
  • not smoking

Medications

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists the different types of blood pressure medications doctors may prescribe to help lower blood pressure. These drugs include:

  • Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: The liver produces and secretes a chemical called angiotensin, which narrows the arteries and raises blood pressure. ACE inhibitors reduce angiotensin production, which relaxes the blood vessels and reduces blood pressure.
  • Angiotensin II receptor blockers: These medications block the effects of angiotensin.
  • Alpha-blockers: These medications relax and widen the blood vessels, thereby improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure.
  • Vasodilators: These medications also relax and widen the blood vessels to lower blood pressure.
  • Calcium channel blockers (CCBs): These medications reduce the amount of calcium entering the heart and blood vessel walls. This causes the blood vessel walls to relax, thereby allowing the heart to receive more oxygenated blood. Some CCBs also lower heart rate.
  • Beta-blockers: These medications reduce heart rate, thereby decreasing the heart’s output of blood and lowering blood pressure.
  • Diuretics: These medications help the body remove excess salt and water, thereby reducing blood volume and lowering blood pressure.

People should contact a doctor if they experience persistent or worsening pain or if their blood pressure readings indicate that they have high or elevated blood pressure.

According to the AHA, normal blood pressure readings should have a systolic value of less than 120 mm Hg and a diastolic value of less than 80 mm Hg.

Elevated blood pressure is defined as a systolic value between 120 and 129 mm Hg and a diastolic value of less than 80 mm Hg.

High blood pressure stage 1 is defined as a systolic value between 130 and 139 mm Hg or a diastolic value between 80 and 89 mm Hg.

A person can also consider contacting a doctor if they have risk factors for high blood pressure.

Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about pain and high blood pressure.

How does pain affect blood pressure and heart rate?

The relationship between pain and blood pressure is complex. One theory is that chronic pain reduces the sensitivity of special receptors called baroreceptors, which monitor blood volume and blood pressure. This makes the baroreceptors less able to detect blood pressure changes and adjust blood pressure accordingly. As a result, blood pressure may rise.

Can inflammation cause high blood pressure?

Tissue damage causes the body’s immune cells to release signaling molecules called inflammatory cytokines. These molecules promote the inflammatory process that allows the body to repair itself.

However, chronic inflammation causes persistently high levels of inflammatory cytokines, which can affect the body’s blood vessels and kidney function.

Because the blood vessels and kidneys play a major role in regulating blood pressure, impairments in either can lead to high blood pressure.

Pain and high blood pressure often occur together. Research suggests that chronic pain can reduce the sensitivity of special receptors near the heart, called baroreceptors, which help regulate blood pressure.

This may raise blood pressure. Certain health conditions and lifestyle factors, such as stress, obesity, and low physical activity, may also increase a person’s risk of developing both chronic pain and high blood pressure.

High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms. Monitoring it is the only way to know for certain that someone has it. Anyone whose blood pressure readings fall outside the healthy range should contact a doctor for further advice and treatment.

The treatment for high blood pressure typically involves lifestyle changes, such as following a low sodium diet, limiting alcohol intake, and not smoking. In some cases, doctors may also prescribe medications to help lower blood pressure.