# “Henry, remember your blood pressure!” (Movie trope) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060 "2019-12-19T02:08:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/1 "2019-12-19T02:08:09Z")
I remember seeing in some old movies, when a mere Piper-kid, of some old guy getting angry about something and his wife cautioning him about his blood pressure. Implication was that if he didn’t bring his anger under control, it might raise his blood pressure. Two questions: 1. Can anger/strong emotions increase blood pressure? Can emotions raise the blood pressure to a dangerous point? 2. Going the other way, can anger or irritability be a sign of high blood pressure? Haven’t seen that in a movie, but i’ve heard it, anecdotally. Any truth to that? Can blood pressure meds reduce irritability? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/2 "2019-12-19T02:49:37Z")
Emotions can definitely affect blood pressure. Some people get high BP readings in a doctor’s office because of nervousness, for instance. Stress also increases BP. Usually it’s not an issue, but it could be if the BP is so high to cause a stroke. OTOH, anger is not a sign of a high BP. The change is due to the anger, but you don’t get more angry if your BP is high. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/3 "2019-12-19T02:57:20Z")
Epinephrine can increase heart rate and cardiac output, so more blood is pumped, resulting in an increase in systolic blood pressure. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/4 "2019-12-19T15:37:58Z")
When I was in school they taught us the two factor theory of emotion. This would imply that it is possible for high blood pressure to cause irritability. However, like much of what they taught us, there seems to be trouble replicating the classic studies. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/5 "2019-12-19T16:04:06Z")
High blood pressure can make you feel unwell in a variety of ways which will lead to irritability. Why is this even a question? ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/6 "2019-12-19T16:11:59Z")
It’s fine, calm down, remember your blood pressure. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/7 "2019-12-19T17:06:27Z")
Out of curiosity, I was wondering which movie the quote may be from, I found this [“Henry, remember your blood pressure!”](http://www.postcardcollecting.com/image-smp/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-risque-comic-postcard-topics-linen-postcard_55456_600x600.jpg) … not quite the scenario **Piper** describes 😉 If you drop the Henry, it’s definitely a fairly common trope as it appears in a few books and TV episodes such as Entourage, Murder She Wrote, Batman - The Animated series, etc… Here are the ones I could find, with _Cinderella_ being the most “famous” I would guess… **It Happened One Night (1934)** > [@](#): > > The scene DISSOLVES TO a ROAD, with Peter still driving. He is, however, as before, in excellent form, and is singing lustily. Suddenly, however, his eyes widen and he pulls on his brake; the car screeches and moans and comes to a stop. > > PETER Take it easy, Dobbin. Remember your blood pressure. On the Wagon (1935) - Starring Shemp Howard and Roscoe Ates > [@](#): > > We open “ON THE WAGON” in the residence of Mrs. Dingle and her two daughters; their wives; {Betty and Jane}. Mrs. Dingle has a really wicked look on her face as she is pacing to and fro like a lion in a cage. She is pounding her hand with her rolling pin as she is now wondering the where a bouts of her two sons-in-law; {Henry and Elmer}, as it is now 2:00 A.M. Sunday morning and they are not home yet, as they are now painting the town red, {getting skunked}. Betty and Jane are sitting on the davenport reading magazines with worried looks on their faces as they are now concerned about mother being so frantically mad at Henry and Elmer for being out so late; {Early?}. > > JANE; {ELMER’S WIFE} to MOTHER DINGLE: (As she has stopped reading her magazine and has a concerned look on her face as she is saying to her in a carrying tone of voice): “Now, mother, remember your blood pressure!” Cinderella (1950) > [@](#): > > Grand Duke: Sire, she got away. > > The King: Sir "She Got Away… " A peculiar title, but if that’s what you… She WHAT? Why, you, you, you traitor! > > Grand Duke: Now sire, remember, your blood pressure! **Palm Springs Weekend (1963)** > [@](#): > > Police Chief Dixon: Goodbye, darling. [Kisses his wife, Cora] I’ll try to get home for dinner. > > Cora Dixon: Remember your blood pressure, dear. > > Police Chief Dixon: Don’t panic, Cora. It’s the beginning of a gay week. Ha-ha. **The Flintstones - The Most Beautiful Baby in Bedrock (19 November 1964)** > [@](#): > > Barney Rubble: [In trying to get away from an angry Fred, Barney climbs a small tree. Fred catches up to him and pull the tree down] Now Fred, remember your blood pressure, remember your cholesterol, remember the Alamo! **Music and Lyrics (2007)** > [@](#): > > Alex Fletcher: I slept with Sophie. > > Chris Riley: (yelling) You slept with Sophie? > > Alex Fletcher: Now remember your blood pressure. You’re a tall man, you need all the pressure you can get! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/8 "2019-12-19T17:10:24Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > High blood pressure can make you feel unwell in a variety of ways which will lead to irritability. Why is this even a question? Is that why they call it “[The silent killer](https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/why-high-blood-pressure-is-a-silent-killer)”? It is essentially symptomless and people with the condition feel fine. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/9 "2019-12-19T17:13:02Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Is that why they call it “[The silent killer](https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/why-high-blood-pressure-is-a-silent-killer)”? It is essentially symptomless and people with the condition feel fine. [I guess you’re right, nobody notices these symptoms:](https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/hypertension-symptoms-high-blood-pressure) > [@](#): > > Severe headache > Fatigue or confusion > Vision problems > Chest pain > Difficulty breathing > Irregular heartbeat > Blood in the urine > Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/10 "2019-12-19T19:23:11Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > [I guess you’re right, nobody notices these symptoms:](https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/hypertension-symptoms-high-blood-pressure) People who don’t have the symptoms don’t notice them. Like my completely asymptomatic 190/120 resting BP (now well-controlled). The only reason anyone figured it out was a routine checkup. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/11 "2019-12-19T19:45:55Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > People who don’t have the symptoms don’t notice them. Somehow I find that hard to argue with, yet still has nothing to do with my post. I didn’t say high blood pressure was always symptomatic. I don’t see any reasonable argument that any illness which can produce undesirable symptoms could not lead to irritability. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/12 "2019-12-19T20:36:18Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Somehow I find that hard to argue with, yet still has nothing to do with my post. I didn’t say high blood pressure was always symptomatic. I don’t see any reasonable argument that any illness which can produce undesirable symptoms could not lead to irritability. Right. I see the reasoning now. If you have symptoms that make you irritable, that may feed back into a self-reinforcing cycle of irritation, raised BP, irritation… until something lets go and it’s not irritating any more. I guess I’m glad I was asymptomatic. Or generally phlegmatic enough that very little irritates me. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/13 "2019-12-19T22:02:31Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Right. I see the reasoning now. If you have symptoms that make you irritable, that may feed back into a self-reinforcing cycle of irritation, raised BP, irritation… until something lets go and it’s not irritating any more. > > I guess I’m glad I was asymptomatic. Or generally phlegmatic enough that very little irritates me. I’m not even saying that irritation directly increases blood pressure, though as so many will say, “finding out my blood pressure is high is raising my blood pressure”. And while my blood pressure is still not really under control, but doing better, I doubt it had anything to do with my irritability, that just comes naturally. But if you have high blood pressure you might as well consider irritability to be a potential symptom of it. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/14 "2019-12-19T23:45:19Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I remember seeing in some old movies, when a mere Piper-kid, of some old guy getting angry about something and his wife cautioning him about his blood pressure. Implication was that if he didn’t bring his anger under control, it might raise his blood pressure. > > Two questions: > > 1. Can anger/strong emotions increase blood pressure? Can emotions raise the blood pressure to a dangerous point? > > 2. Going the other way, can anger or irritability be a sign of high blood pressure? Haven’t seen that in a movie, but i’ve heard it, anecdotally. Any truth to that? Can blood pressure meds reduce irritability? Anxiety, anger, aerobic exercise and heavy lifting can all increase blood pressure temporarily. As for point 2, I’m obviously not a doctor, but certain disorders (like an adrenal tumor or too much cortisol) could lead to both irritability and hypertension, but its more that both would be symptoms of the hormonal imbalance rather than the irritability being due to hypertension. At least as I understand it. Can blood pressure meds reduce irritability? Some can. Some blood pressure meds work by repressing the sympathetic nervous system, which is the fight or flight nervous system. Clonidine, beta blockers, alpha blockers, etc. all suppress the fight or flight mechanism in various ways, and all are used off label to treat anxiety even among people who are normotensive. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/15 "2019-12-20T03:35:11Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > [I guess you’re right, nobody notices these symptoms:](https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/hypertension-symptoms-high-blood-pressure) Read the first paragraph of your link. You missed the most important phrase in the second paragraph: “If you blood pressure is \* extremely\* high.” (Emphasis added). Most people with HPB are not extremely high (again, read that first paragraph). Until you get to that point (which usually takes years even if untreated), there are no noticeable symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/16 "2019-12-20T03:58:52Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Read the first paragraph of your link. > > You missed the most important phrase in the second paragraph: “If you blood pressure is \* extremely\* high.” (Emphasis added). > > Most people with HPB are not extremely high (again, read that first paragraph). Until you get to that point (which usually takes years even if untreated), there are no noticeable symptoms. So extremely high blood pressure is not high blood pressure? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/17 "2019-12-20T10:10:47Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > **The Flintstones - The Most Beautiful Baby in Bedrock (19 November 1964)** > > Barney Rubble: [In trying to get away from an angry Fred, Barney climbs a small tree. Fred catches up to him and pull the tree down] Now Fred, remember your blood pressure, remember your cholesterol, remember the Alamo! I know the word “cholesterol” has been around as a medical term since the 1890s, but was it in common parlance in 1964? I (born 1961) personally never heard the word until around 1975, and I’d watched a LOT of Flintstones up to that point… ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-remember-your-blood-pressure-movie-trope/845060/18 "2019-12-20T12:49:40Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > I know the word “cholesterol” has been around as a medical term since the 1890s, but was it in common parlance in 1964? I (born 1961) personally never heard the word until around 1975, and I’d watched a LOT of Flintstones up to that point… The timing is about right as it coincides with the findings of the Framingham Heart Study and the Seven Countries Study which reported high blood cholesterol as a as a risk factor cardiovascular disease.