For the entire month of September and into October, I experienced Anxiety on almost a daily basis, and panic attacks about 3-4 times per week. Prior to taking my Blood Pressure, I freaked out, my heart was racing, and I was really nervous. My Blood pressure read 165/86. Does a panic attack/anxiety increase or distort the Blood Pressure reading? Other than anxiety, I’m pretty healthy. I don’t eat meat, only fish. And I’m not really overweight (10-15 lbs at the most), and I’ve never had a history of High Blood Pressure. Every time before the month of september, my blood pressure was normal. Is it reading high because I freak out and panic now when I take a blood pressure reading? By how many points can freaking out and panicking raise the reading?