Anxiety can raise both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP). Systolic BP is the top number, which represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, and diastolic BP is the bottom number, which represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting between beats.
When you experience anxiety or stress, your body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which cause your heart rate to increase and blood vessels to narrow. This narrowing can lead to an increase in blood pressure. Additionally, anxiety can cause you to breathe more rapidly and shallowly, which can also increase blood pressure.