Unspoken trauma: How silent posttraumatic stress disorder fuels rising hypertension

Rishitha Kotla; Priyanka Bodhare; Sakshi Dudhe; Nayan Sinha; Devyansh Nimodia; Abhishek Choudhary

doi:10.31893/multiscience.2025455

Keywords:

hypertension

posttraumatic stress disorder

antidepressant treatment

benzodiazepine treatment

black magic

multidisciplinary care

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most extensively researched psychological conditions, known to present with numerous physical symptoms. Among the various dimensions of PTSD, those that manifest more overtly—such as recurring flashbacks and intrusive thoughts—are widely recognized and accepted. However, a less apparent form of the disorder, termed silent PTSD, often goes unnoticed, untreated, and unmanaged in most cases. Unlike traditional PTSD, silent PTSD lacks prominent symptoms like trauma reliving or acute panic episodes. Instead, it operates insidiously, progressively affecting the body through chronic stress and wear on multiple systems. One of the most severe outcomes associated with silent PTSD is its significant role in contributing to the development of hypertension. The relationship between silent PTSD and hypertension is complex and multifactorial, but it primarily stems from the persistent state of stress and arousal experienced by individuals. When this heightened stress persists over extended periods, it leads to chronic hyperactivation of the cardiovascular system. Over time, this hyperactivation overwhelms the body’s adaptive mechanisms, resulting in prolonged stress and, consequently, elevated blood pressure levels. If left untreated, this continuous cycle significantly increases the risk of developing hypertensive diseases. This paper explores how silent PTSD facilitates the onset of hypertension and underscores the critical need for increased awareness about this hidden form of PTSD. It highlights the importance of implementing improved screening methods, particularly in populations frequently exposed to traumatic events. By identifying and addressing silent PTSD early, healthcare professionals can mitigate its long-term health consequences, including its devastating impact on cardiovascular health. Recognizing the subtle yet pervasive effects of silent PTSD is essential to ensure timely intervention and promote better outcomes for affected individuals.
References
1. Beristianos, M. H., Yaffe, K., Cohen, B., & Byers, A. L. (2016). PTSD and risk of incident cardiovascular disease in aging veterans. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(3), 192-200.
2. Cohen, B. E., Edmondson, D., & Kronish, I. M. (2015). State of the art review: depression, stress, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease. American journal of hypertension, 28(11), 1295-1302.
3. Friedman, M. J., & McEwen, B. S. (2004). Posttraumatic stress disorder, allostatic load, and medical illness.
4. Hoge, C. W., Auchterlonie, J. L., & Milliken, C. S. (2006). Mental health problems, use of mental health services, and attrition from military service after returning from deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. Jama, 295(9), 1023-1032.
5. Kibler, J. L., Joshi, K., & Ma, M. (2009). Hypertension in relation to posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in the US National Comorbidity Survey. Behavioral Medicine, 34(4), 125-132.
6. McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: central role of the brain. Physiological reviews, 87(3), 873-904.
7. McFarlane, A. C. (2010). The long-term costs of traumatic stress: intertwined physical and psychological consequences. World Psychiatry, 9(1), 3.
8. Qureshi, S. U., Pyne, J. M., Magruder, K. M., Schulz, P. E., & Kunik, M. E. (2009). The link between post-traumatic stress disorder and physical comorbidities: a systematic review. Psychiatric quarterly, 80, 87-97.
9. Sawchuk, C. N., Roy-Byrne, P., Goldberg, J., Manson, S., Noonan, C., Beals, J., & Buchwald, D. (2005). The relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and cardiovascular disease in an American Indian tribe. Psychological medicine, 35(12), 1785-1794.
10. Schnurr, P. P., & Green, B. L. (2004). Understanding relationships among trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, and health outcomes.
11. Schnurr, P. P., & Jankowski, M. K. (1999, October). Physical health and post-traumatic stress disorder: review and synthesis. In Seminars in clinical neuropsychiatry (Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 295-304).
12. Yehuda, R., & LeDoux, J. (2007). Response variation following trauma: a translational neuroscience approach to understanding PTSD. Neuron, 56(1), 19-32.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Kotla, R., Bodhare, P., Dudhe, S., Sinha, N., Nimodia, D., & Choudhary, A. (2025). Unspoken trauma: How silent posttraumatic stress disorder fuels rising hypertension. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 7(10), 2025455. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2025455

[1] Beristianos, M. H., Yaffe, K., Cohen, B., & Byers, A. L. (2016). PTSD and risk of incident cardiovascular disease in aging veterans. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(3), 192-200.

[2] Cohen, B. E., Edmondson, D., & Kronish, I. M. (2015). State of the art review: depression, stress, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease. American journal of hypertension, 28(11), 1295-1302.

[3] Friedman, M. J., & McEwen, B. S. (2004). Posttraumatic stress disorder, allostatic load, and medical illness.

[4] Hoge, C. W., Auchterlonie, J. L., & Milliken, C. S. (2006). Mental health problems, use of mental health services, and attrition from military service after returning from deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. Jama, 295(9), 1023-1032.

[5] Kibler, J. L., Joshi, K., & Ma, M. (2009). Hypertension in relation to posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in the US National Comorbidity Survey. Behavioral Medicine, 34(4), 125-132.

[6] McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: central role of the brain. Physiological reviews, 87(3), 873-904.

[7] McFarlane, A. C. (2010). The long-term costs of traumatic stress: intertwined physical and psychological consequences. World Psychiatry, 9(1), 3.

[8] Qureshi, S. U., Pyne, J. M., Magruder, K. M., Schulz, P. E., & Kunik, M. E. (2009). The link between post-traumatic stress disorder and physical comorbidities: a systematic review. Psychiatric quarterly, 80, 87-97.

[9] Sawchuk, C. N., Roy-Byrne, P., Goldberg, J., Manson, S., Noonan, C., Beals, J., & Buchwald, D. (2005). The relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and cardiovascular disease in an American Indian tribe. Psychological medicine, 35(12), 1785-1794.

[10] Schnurr, P. P., & Green, B. L. (2004). Understanding relationships among trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, and health outcomes.

[11] Schnurr, P. P., & Jankowski, M. K. (1999, October). Physical health and post-traumatic stress disorder: review and synthesis. In Seminars in clinical neuropsychiatry (Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 295-304).

[12] Yehuda, R., & LeDoux, J. (2007). Response variation following trauma: a translational neuroscience approach to understanding PTSD. Neuron, 56(1), 19-32.

Abstract

References

How to cite