High blood pressure is often known as a danger to the heart, but new research shows it might also affect your personality and mental health.
A study published in the journal General Psychiatry found a strong link between diastolic blood pressure—the lower number in a blood pressure reading—and a personality trait called neuroticism.
Neuroticism means someone often feels nervous, worried, angry, or overly self-conscious. People with high levels of neuroticism are more likely to feel mental stress and may have problems like anxiety or depression.
This study suggests that keeping your diastolic blood pressure under control could not only protect your heart but also help you feel more emotionally stable.
The researchers used a method called Mendelian randomization. This approach uses genetic data to figure out whether one thing causes another. In this case, they looked at tiny differences in people’s DNA, known as SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms), to see if blood pressure could actually cause changes in personality.
They studied genetic data from more than eight large research groups, mostly with people of European background. The scientists checked over 1,000 genetic markers linked to blood pressure. What they found was clear: high diastolic blood pressure had a strong effect on increasing neurotic traits.
Interestingly, they did not find the same connection between blood pressure and other mental health problems like anxiety, depression, or general happiness. This means that diastolic pressure seems to have a special link with neuroticism.
Over 90% of the genetic signs pointed directly to diastolic pressure as the key factor. This means that if someone has high diastolic pressure, they may be more likely to experience emotional ups and downs, be sensitive to criticism, and feel more negative emotions. These traits can increase the chances of developing anxiety and mood problems over time.
The study shows that the heart and brain are deeply connected. When blood pressure is too high, it can affect how blood flows and how the nervous system works. This can influence the way people feel and behave.
For people who already have neurotic traits, mental stress can raise blood pressure even more, creating a cycle that’s hard to break. That’s why it’s important to keep blood pressure in a healthy range—not just for your heart, but also for your emotional health.
Managing diastolic pressure with a healthy lifestyle, such as eating well, exercising, and avoiding stress, might not only prevent heart disease but also help people feel calmer and more balanced emotionally.
This research, led by Dr. Cai L and colleagues, gives us a new way of thinking about blood pressure. It’s not just a number that affects the heart—it may also shape how we think and feel. Taking care of both your body and your mind is the best way to stay healthy.
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