SummaryPurposeThe purpose was to examine whether prolonged moderate stress associated with a student exam would increase the blood pressure response to a salt load in young healthy normotensive individuals.MethodsTen healthy young subjects were examined at two different occasions in random order (i) during preparation for a medical exam (prolonged stress) and (ii) outside the exam period (low stress). All subjects consumed a controlled diet for 3 days with low‐ or high‐salt content in randomized order. The subjective stress was measured by Spielberger's State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory‐Scale, SCL Symptom Checklist for stress and the Visual Analogue Scale. On each level of stress, 24‐h ambulatory blood pressure and cardiac output (CO) were measured. Furthermore, plasma norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured.ResultsTwenty‐four‐hour ABP, 24‐h heart rate, CO as well as plasma levels of NE, E and PRA remained unchanged by changes in stress level. Day–night reduction in SAP was significantly larger during moderate stress and high‐salt intake; however, no significant difference was observed during daytime and night‐time. Individual increase in mental stress correlated significantly with an individual decrease in PRA (SCL‐17, r = −0·80, P<0·05, STAIr = −0·64 P<0·05) during high‐salt intake.ConclusionModerate stress over a period of time in young healthy normotensive individuals does not lead to changes in 24‐h ABP. However, the augmented reduction in day‐to‐night systolic blood pressure during high‐salt intake and moderate stress may indicate that stress affects blood pressure regulation.