Abstract - Is essential hypertension a sustained „fight and flight” reaction?
Essential hypertension is a growing public health problem in Western societes as well as in developing countries. It is well established that stress and especially mental stress is one of key triggering factors in the development of high blood pressure in some populations. Some components of General Adaptation Syndrome seen in stress such as “fight and flight” reaction may play a role in sustaining of elevated blood pressure. Newly described “high normal blood pressure” may have some role in increasing risk for cardiovascular diseases.