Can you have heart problems with normal blood pressure

Q: Can you have a heart attack with normal cholesterol and blood pressure?

After studying more than 1,000 people whod had heart attacks, the researchers concluded that most major heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels.

High blood pressure puts extra strain on the heart and arteries. Years of untreated high blood pressure and the strain it puts on artery walls creates places for cholesterol to build up and form hardened patches of plaque.

Table of Contents Show

What’s the best blood pressure number for me?
Never had high blood pressure? Succeeded in bringing it down? You’re not done.
What do blood pressure numbers mean?
Can you have a heart attack if your blood pressure is normal?
How do I know if something is wrong with my heart?
Can you have a heart attack with normal cholesterol and blood pressure?
What can be mistaken for heart problems?

If the plaque ruptures, bits and pieces enter the bloodstream, where they can form blood clots.

High blood pressure rarely shows symptoms. Checking your numbers regularly is critical to avoiding long-term complications such as heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, impaired vision and kidney disease.

Life-threatening conditions caused by high blood pressure include:

Heart attack: Over time, high blood pressure can damage the lining of your arteries. Fats in your bloodstream can collect along the damaged walls. Cholesterol and triglycerides combine to form plaque and cause atherosclerosis — hardening and narrowing of the arteries. If the plaque breaks loose and causes a blood clots in the heart, that’s a heart attack.
Stroke: If the buildup sends clots into the brain, the result is a stroke.
Heart failure: The extra workload on the heart can lead to an enlarged heart. That makes it harder for your heart to meet your body’s need for oxygen and nutrients.

What’s the best blood pressure number for me?

While a range of blood pressure numbers are considered normal, each person’s health is unique.

“We know as cardiologists that a variety of factors can contribute to a variance in blood pressure numbers. What may be considered ‘normal’ or in a good range for one person may be high or elevated for another,” said Joseph A. Lash, M.D., cardiologist with Norton Heart Specialists and medical director for Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. “One thing is for certain: We want to see everyone’s blood pressure below 140/90. Anything over this figure, regardless of the reason, needs to be evaluated by a physician.”

Never had high blood pressure? Succeeded in bringing it down? You’re not done.

Blood pressure is a health indicator that can vary based on factors including age, diet, stress and even time of day you reading is taken, so it can vary over time. Individuals may also experience high blood pressure even when they are physically fit or meeting other healthy living standards. Blood pressure that is too low also can be a sign of an issue.

Knowing your blood pressure numbers through periodic checks is good practice for every adult and a proactive way to manage your health and reduce risk. This easy and painless reading may be the first sign that it’s time to talk your physician.

What do blood pressure numbers mean?

Knowing your blood pressure numbers can help you and your provider work together to keep you healthy.

Blood pressure	Systolic (top number) mmHg		Diastolic (bottom number) mmHg
Normal	Less than 120		Less than 80	Keep up the good work.
Elevated	120-129		Less than 80	Consider steps to lower your blood pressure.
High blood pressure Hypertension stage 1	130-139		80-89	You’ll have to make lifestyle changes and may get medication.
High blood pressure Hypertension stage 2	140 and higher		90 or higher	You’ll have to make lifestyle changes and will likely get medication.
Hypertensive crisis	Higher than 180	and/or	Higher than 120	Contact your health care provider. If you also have a severe headache, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, call 911.

Does blood pressure change during a heart attack?

Blood pressure is the force of your blood as it’s pushed from your heart and circulated throughout your body. During a heart attack, the blood flow to a portion of your heart is blocked. Sometimes, this can lead to your blood pressure decreasing. In some people, there may be little change to your blood pressure at all. In other cases, there may be an increase in blood pressure.

Any blood pressure changes that may occur during a heart attack are unpredictable, so doctors generally don’t use them as a sign of a heart attack. While there could be changes in your blood pressure during a heart attack, other types of heart attack symptoms are much more pronounced.

Blood pressure is measured by evaluating the pressure that blood flowing through your arteries exerts on the walls of those arteries. During a heart attack, blood flow to part of your heart muscle is restricted or cut off, often because a blood clot blocks an artery. Without the necessary blood supply, the affected portion of your heart does not get the oxygen it needs to function properly.

Decreases

Sometimes, blood pressure can decrease during a heart attack. Low blood pressure is also known as hypotension. Low blood pressure during a heart attack can be due to a few factors:

Your heart pumps less blood because its tissue is damaged: During a heart attack, blood flow to your heart is blocked or cut off completely. This can “stun” or even kill the tissues that make up your heart muscle. Stunned or dead heart tissues reduce the amount of blood your heart can pump to the rest of your body.

In response to pain: The pain from a heart attack can trigger a vasovagal response in some people. A vasovagal response is your nervous system’s reaction to a trigger like extreme stress or pain. It causes a drop in blood pressure and can lead to fainting.

Your parasympathetic nervous system goes into overdrive: Your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is responsible for your body’s resting state, in which your blood pressure is lowered. A heart attack can cause your PNS to go into overdrive, decreasing your blood pressure.

Increases

Low blood pressure alone isn’t an indication of a heart attack, since not everyone will experience a decrease in blood pressure during a heart attack. In some people, a heart attack may not cause any significant changes in blood pressure at all.

Others may even experience an increase in blood pressure, also known as hypertension, during a heart attack. This may be caused by spikes in hormones like adrenaline that flood your body during stressful situations like heart attacks.

A heart attack can also cause your sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to go into overdrive, leading to blood pressure increases. Your SNS is responsible for your “fight or flight” reactions.

Blood pressure is not an accurate predictor of a heart attack. Sometimes a heart attack can cause an increase or decrease in blood pressure, but having a change in blood pressure reading doesn’t always mean it’s heart-related. Instead, a better strategy for gauging a heart attack is to look at your overall symptoms. A heart attack may cause multiple symptoms, just a few symptoms, or even no symptoms at all.

Chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack. However, it’s not the only symptom. Possible symptoms of a heart attack include:

chest pain
mild to severe squeezing sensations in the chest area
pain in the arms (or just one, usually the left)
cold sweats
abdominal pain
jaw, neck, and upper-back pain
nausea
vomiting
dizziness or fainting
shortness of breath

These symptoms are often better predictors of a heart attack than blood pressure readings.

Regular checkups with your doctor are key to determining your overall risk for a heart attack. Risk factors can include:

obesity
diabetes
family history
age
hypertension
personal history of heart attack
smoking
sedentary lifestyle

While a heart attack can’t be predicted, you can work with your doctor to lower the chances of one happening to you.

Can you have a heart attack if your blood pressure is normal?

During a heart attack, blood pressure can rise, fall, or stay the same. As a result, blood pressure change without other symptoms is not a reliable sign of a heart attack.

How do I know if something is wrong with my heart?

Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina) Shortness of breath. Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper belly area or back. Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the legs or arms if the blood vessels in those body areas are narrowed.

Can you have a heart attack with normal cholesterol and blood pressure?

After studying more than 1,000 people who'd had heart attacks, the researchers concluded that most major heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels.