New high blood pressure is a potential complication of COVID-19. A doctor can help you develop a plan to get your blood pressure back in a healthy range.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It means the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries is too strong.
High blood pressure is a potential complication of COVID-19 and other viral infections.
While some people may be able to manage high blood pressure with changes to their diet and exercise plans and with other changes like reducing stress, others may require medication to lower their risk of heart attack or stroke.
Let’s examine the relationship between COVID-19 and blood pressure, how doctors treat high blood pressure after COVID-19, and what you can do to support healthy blood pressure.
What is high blood pressure?
Generally, “normal” blood pressure is anything less than
High blood pressure is divided into stages based on severity.
- Stage 1 hypertension is 130 to 139 mm Hg systolic or 80 to 89 mm Hg diastolic.
- Stage 2 hypertension is 140 mm Hg or higher systolic or 90 mm Hg or higher diastolic.
In a blood pressure reading, the top number is your systolic blood pressure. This refers to the pressure in your arteries when your heart contracts.
The bottom number is your diastolic blood pressure. This refers to the pressure in your arteries when your heart relaxes between beats.
It generally doesn’t have symptoms unless one of the numbers is very high.
COVID-19 can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure.
In a 2023 study from Italy, researchers found that people who had COVID-19 had a
The results of
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all people over 18 years of age measure their blood pressure regularly. You can measure your blood pressure at home or at a pharmacy.
If you develop elevated blood pressure after having COVID-19, it’s best to talk with a healthcare professional.
High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms until it causes a heart attack or stroke. Monitoring your blood pressure regularly can help prevent these complications.
If you get a high blood pressure reading on an at-home monitor, it’s best to wait at least 1 minute and re-check your blood pressure to see if the result changes.
If you still get a high blood pressure reading, it’s best to let your doctor know.
They may check your blood pressure in office and make recommendations on practices to lower in. Depending on how high it is and whether changes to diet and exercise lower it at home, they may also recommend medication.
Making lifestyle adjustments might help lower your blood pressure. Lifestyle adjustments may be particularly important if you already had high blood pressure before getting COVID-19.
The
- eating a healthy diet low in salt
- limiting alcohol intake
- managing stress
- maintaining a moderate weight
- quitting smoking, if you smoke
- taking all your medications as prescribed
- working with your healthcare team
Psychological stress can activate your
Examples of ways you can decrease stress include:
- finding time for physical activity
- spending more time doing activities you enjoy
- listening to music you find relaxing
- spending time in nature
- reaching out to your family and friends
- practicing mindfulness activities, like journaling or meditation
If you have high blood pressure, it’s important to minimize your intake of
- some decongestants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- alcohol and caffeine
- some herbs, like licorice root
- some prescription drugs, like corticosteroids or oral birth control
Potential risks
It’s important not to stop taking your prescription medications unless your doctor tells you it’s safe.
If you can’t lower your blood pressure with lifestyle changes alone, a doctor may recommend the following medications.
Diuretics
Diuretics lower your blood pressure by reducing fluid in your blood. Doctors commonly prescribe these for high blood pressure ahead of other medications.
Common diuretics include:
- thiazides
- loop diuretics
- potassium-sparing diuretics
Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers block the action of adrenaline and other hormones to slow down your heart. Commonly prescribed beta-blockers include:
- atenolol (Tenormin)
- bisoprolol (Cardicor, Congescor)
- carvedilol (Coreg)
- labetalol (Trandate)
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors lower your blood pressure by blocking the enzyme angiotensin II, which narrows your blood vessels. Common ACE inhibitors include:
- benazepril (Lotensin)
- fosinopril (Monopril)
- enalapril (Vasotec)
- captopril (Capoten)
Other medications
Other medications include:
- Calcium channel blockers: Calcium channel blockers block calcium from entering your blood vessels and heart.
- Alpha-blockers: Alpha-blockers block the hormone norepinephrine, which constricts your blood vessels.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers: Angiotensin II receptor blockers bind against angiotensin II receptors to keep your blood vessels from narrowing.
- Central alpha-2 receptor agonists: Central alpha-2 receptor agonists inhibit sympathetic nervous system activity.
Potential risks
Medications can have side effects, and some of these side effects can be serious.
For example, ACE inhibitors can cause short-term worsening of kidney function. They’re also associated with birth irregularities. A doctor can advise on which medications are safe for you.
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COVID-19 vaccination can reduce your chance of developing COVID-19 or developing severe disease.
Potential risks
Vaccinations can cause side effects, though serious side effects are extremely rare. High blood pressure seems to be one of the
However, this increase is temporary, and it may be connected to anxiety about the vaccination rather than a result of the vaccination itself.
Here are some frequently asked questions people have about post-COVID-19 high blood pressure.
Some people have reported new high blood pressure as a potential complication of COVID-19. Also, people with preexisting high blood pressure may be more susceptible to developing COVID-19.
Many different types of viral infections can cause high blood pressure, including the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
Long-term increases in blood pressure seem to be a potential symptom of long COVID-19. Researchers have also associated low blood pressure (hypotension) with long COVID-19.
High blood pressure may last longer than 6 months after COVID-19. In a 2023 study, new-onset high blood pressure affected 20.6% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 and 10.85% of non-hospitalized people at a 6-month follow-up.
If you have high blood pressure following COVID-19, a doctor may recommend making lifestyle changes and regularly monitoring your blood pressure. They might also recommend medications if these remedies alone aren’t enough to lower your blood pressure.
It’s best to make an appointment to talk with a doctor about your blood pressure readings.