High Blood Pressure - Is this Unusual?

[SoccerDad]

I was diagnosed about 6 months ago with anxiety disorder. I made two trips to the ER when it first started, and needless to say, my blood pressure was extremely high when I was admitted (about 190/100) because I was having an attack. I was started on blood pressure medication (50 mg Metoprolol twice a day and 5/10 mg of Lotrel). Since then my blood pressure has calmed down quite a bit. When I'm not having any anxiety symptoms, it's usually lower than 120/80. When I am having anxiety symptoms, it has gone up to about 150-160/90 or so. I check it once every couple of days, so I don't think I'm obsessing about it, but sometimes I start to think about it (like now) and I get anxious. I'm 44 years old, and I exercise as much as I can. This anxiety is terrible. Anyone else have this problem?

[moesciphish]

I realize now that I think I have GAD, though I'm getting control of it. I've been to several doc's about pains I've been having in my chest/back area. I think I developed GAD because of my symptoms. However, usually when I go to the doc my bp is around 123/75... I've been to the ER once or twice because of chest pains and while there my bp was like 165/97, or other times its been like 153/88... so.. yes I think anxiety can really raise BP... problem is.. it's not healthy to constantly have it raised due to anxiety... and if you have GAD, it might be up there alot... I believe some betablockers and calcium-channel blockers are given to anxiety suffers to minimize the effects of adrenaline on heart beat and BP.