Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDuring a Heart AttackHeart Attack RiskChest PainIdeal RangesReducing Risk
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
During a Heart Attack
Heart Attack Risk
Chest Pain
Ideal Ranges
Reducing Risk
Blood pressure readings during a heart attack can vary. Blood pressure could be normal, elevated, or low, depending on the affected heart area.
For example, a heart attack affecting the lower right part of the heart (an inferior wall heart attack) may cause low blood pressure.Conversely,atherosclerosis, a process where fat and cholesterol can build up in the blood vessels over time and cause them to be less flexible, can cause blood pressure to rise and remain high during a heart attack.However, there are other causes for normal, elevated, or low blood pressure during a heart attack.
This article describes what happens to blood pressure during a heart attack, how to check your blood pressure, and treatment options and lifestyle changes to keep your blood pressure in check.
Hispanolistic / Getty Images
Systolic vs. Diastolic Blood Pressure
What Does Blood Pressure Do During a Heart Attack?
Your blood pressure during a heart attack is not limited to these examples. There are various reasons your blood pressure may be normal, elevated, or low during a heart attack. Work with a healthcare provider to understand your risk for a heart attack and recognize any warning signs.
Can Blood Pressure Tell You About Heart Attack Risk?
Healthcare providers categorize your blood pressure into four different categories to help them assess your risk for heart-related events. The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk for a heart attack.
In 2017, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) determined that systolic blood pressure (the top number of a blood pressure reading) should be below 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) should be below 80 mm Hg to help reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke.
The chart below outlines the four categories, blood pressure ranges, and interventions a healthcare provider will recommend for each risk level.
If you have elevated blood pressure or hypertension, a healthcare provider will encourage you to follow aheart-healthy diet, incorporate moderate exercise, and, depending on how high your blood pressure is, prescribe you blood pressure medication to help reduce your cardiovascular risk.
High Blood Pressure and Chest Pain: What to Know
A blood pressure reading of 180/120 mm Hg, especially if it happens suddenly, is considered severe and requires immediate medical attention.If your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or higher, and you have the following symptoms, it could be an indication of an impending cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack:
If this happensto you or someone you know, call 911 for emergency medical response.
How to Measure Your Blood PressureIf you have a blood pressure cuff at home, here are some things to keep in mind when you monitoring your blood pressure:Take readings at the same time every daySit and rest for five minutes before checking your blood pressureTighten the cuff around your bare arm (not over clothes)Sit still, with your back supported and your feet flat on the floorMake sure your arm is supported and is at chest heightTake two readings, one minute apart, and record the readings daily to track your blood pressure over time
How to Measure Your Blood Pressure
If you have a blood pressure cuff at home, here are some things to keep in mind when you monitoring your blood pressure:Take readings at the same time every daySit and rest for five minutes before checking your blood pressureTighten the cuff around your bare arm (not over clothes)Sit still, with your back supported and your feet flat on the floorMake sure your arm is supported and is at chest heightTake two readings, one minute apart, and record the readings daily to track your blood pressure over time
If you have a blood pressure cuff at home, here are some things to keep in mind when you monitoring your blood pressure:
Ideal Blood Pressure Ranges in Females and Males
Men tend to experience hypertension more often than women until age 50 or later.Based on the ACC and AHA recommendations, blood pressure ranges are the same for men and women, at less than 120/80 mm Hg.
Treatment options for managing high blood pressure are generally the same formenandwomen.Aside from special consideration for people diagnosed with high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia), there are no treatment differences based on gender alone.
Heart Attack Symptoms for WomenWomen, like men, often experience chest pain or pressure as a sign of a heart attack.However, women might experience different symptoms than men, including nausea, vomiting, or jaw pain. Seek medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms.
Heart Attack Symptoms for Women
Women, like men, often experience chest pain or pressure as a sign of a heart attack.However, women might experience different symptoms than men, including nausea, vomiting, or jaw pain. Seek medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms.
How to Lower Risk of Heart Attack and Heart Disease
High blood pressure does not always show signs of the damage it causes to blood vessels and organs, which is why it is known as the ‘silent killer.‘There is no cure for high blood pressure, but identifying it early, making healthy lifestyle changes, and taking blood pressure medications as prescribed can reduce the long-term effects of high blood pressure.
Lifestyle changes thatreduce the adverse effectsof high blood pressure include:
Summary
Ensuring a heart-healthy lifestyle—which includes regular physical activity, managing stress, and a heart-healthy diet—can help ensure blood pressure remains in the normal range and minimize the risk of a heart attack.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ameloot K, Jakkula P, Hästbacka J, et al.Optimum blood pressure in patients with shock after acute myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;76(7):812-824. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.06.043National Library of Medicine.Inferior myocardial infarction.American Heart Association.How high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack.American Heart Association.What is a silent heart attack?Beevers G, Lip GY, O’Brien E.ABC of hypertension: the pathophysiology of hypertension.BMJ. 2001;322(7291):912-916. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7291.912American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.American Heart Association.Home blood pressure monitoring.Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al.2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines [published correction appears in Hypertension. 2018 Jun;71(6):e136-e139] [published correction appears in Hypertension. 2018 Sep;72(3):e33].Hypertension. 2018;71(6):1269-1324. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000066American Heart Association.How to manage high blood pressure.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ameloot K, Jakkula P, Hästbacka J, et al.Optimum blood pressure in patients with shock after acute myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;76(7):812-824. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.06.043National Library of Medicine.Inferior myocardial infarction.American Heart Association.How high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack.American Heart Association.What is a silent heart attack?Beevers G, Lip GY, O’Brien E.ABC of hypertension: the pathophysiology of hypertension.BMJ. 2001;322(7291):912-916. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7291.912American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.American Heart Association.Home blood pressure monitoring.Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al.2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines [published correction appears in Hypertension. 2018 Jun;71(6):e136-e139] [published correction appears in Hypertension. 2018 Sep;72(3):e33].Hypertension. 2018;71(6):1269-1324. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000066American Heart Association.How to manage high blood pressure.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ameloot K, Jakkula P, Hästbacka J, et al.Optimum blood pressure in patients with shock after acute myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;76(7):812-824. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.06.043National Library of Medicine.Inferior myocardial infarction.American Heart Association.How high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack.American Heart Association.What is a silent heart attack?Beevers G, Lip GY, O’Brien E.ABC of hypertension: the pathophysiology of hypertension.BMJ. 2001;322(7291):912-916. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7291.912American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.American Heart Association.Home blood pressure monitoring.Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al.2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines [published correction appears in Hypertension. 2018 Jun;71(6):e136-e139] [published correction appears in Hypertension. 2018 Sep;72(3):e33].Hypertension. 2018;71(6):1269-1324. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000066American Heart Association.How to manage high blood pressure.
Ameloot K, Jakkula P, Hästbacka J, et al.Optimum blood pressure in patients with shock after acute myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;76(7):812-824. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.06.043
National Library of Medicine.Inferior myocardial infarction.
American Heart Association.How high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack.
American Heart Association.What is a silent heart attack?
Beevers G, Lip GY, O’Brien E.ABC of hypertension: the pathophysiology of hypertension.BMJ. 2001;322(7291):912-916. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7291.912
American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.
American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.
American Heart Association.Home blood pressure monitoring.
Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al.2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines [published correction appears in Hypertension. 2018 Jun;71(6):e136-e139] [published correction appears in Hypertension. 2018 Sep;72(3):e33].Hypertension. 2018;71(6):1269-1324. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000066
American Heart Association.How to manage high blood pressure.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
