Cortisol and high blood pressure

aoibhebree

What is the link between high levels of cortisol and high blood pressure? i.e. does an increased level of cortisol lead to high blood pressure, or does high blood pressure cause higher levels of cortisol?

Thanks!

charlieroot

Cortisol enhances vasoconstriction by adrenaline leading to increased peripheral resistance and hypertension(high blood pressure). A quick google for cortisol and hypertension throws up a few papers on the subject of cortisol induced hypertension.

Not sure if or how hypertension would cause increased levels of cortisol?

DrIndy

high cortisol levels do cause hypertension - which is why it is seen in cushings syndrome and cushings disease.

There is also the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis to consider which is also adrenal.

There is current thinking that in young hypertensives there is greater activity in this axis which is why younger hypertensives respond much better to an ACE-Inhibitor than older people do. This is separate from actually having conn's syndrome.

But the caveat to this is "essential" hypertension is the commonest form and the true cause is not fully understood.

YFlyer

aoibhebree wrote: »

What is the link between high levels of cortisol and high blood pressure? i.e. does an increased level of cortisol lead to high blood pressure, or does high blood pressure cause higher levels of cortisol?

Thanks!

In addition we should ask how can we reduce high blood pressure with little or no negative side affects?