Emotional irritation and anxiety in salt-sensitive persons at risk to essential hypertension

Personality traits such as anxiety and anger have long been associated with essential hypertension. However, the results of past studies have been cri ticised for selection bias, and it has not been clarified whether psycholog ical traits are causes or consequences of high blood pressure. We studied e motional state and trait patterns and reactivity to mental stress in 16 hea lthy salt-sensitive volunteers at genetic risk of developing hypertension, and a well-matched control group. We have previously reported increased blo od pressure reactivity to mental stress in those individuals. In this paper , we present the results of several standardized psychological questionnair es in which salt-sensitive individuals displayed increased anxiety (p < 0.0 1), emotional irritation (p < 0.01) and a lower level of anger control (p < 0.01). Thus, an elevated level of anxiety and irritation, as well as an in creased blood-pressure response to mental stress may play a role in the dev elopment of salt-sensitive hypertension.