Although stress and anxiety haven’t been linked to long-term high blood pressure or hypertension, they do cause temporary spikes in blood pressure. Consistent, temporary increases in blood pressure levels can damage your heart the same way hypertension would.
Lemon inhalation aromatherapy was linked with reduced systolic blood pressure and anxiety in patients with acute myocardial infarction or AMI (aka heart attack), per a 2020 study in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. AMI happens when there’s a disruption in blood flow to your heart. Lemon essential oil is also thought to have anti-depressant-like properties because it modulates levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in your brain, according to a 2013 study in the Journal of Functional Foods. Depression is a risk factor for high blood pressure, too.
Finding natural ways to combat anxiety, stress, and depression while taking in the scent of lemons during bedtime could be a pleasant way to get rest after a long day. Hopefully, it might also mean good sleep. Lack of sleep can negatively impact blood pressure levels, too. Talking about lack of sleep, lemons placed on your bedside table can ward off ants (thanks to the acidic oil content in the fruit) and freshen the air in your room. Both of these could help with better sleep as well. Aside from inhaling the stuff, consuming a glass of warm lemon water before bed may also help with blood pressure levels.
