Heart Attack Without High Blood Pressure? Causes & Risk Factors

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is when the blood pumps harder due to blocked arteries and causes the heart to work harder. Hypertension can lead to a heart attack or stroke, but is not the only possible cause of a heart attack.

Age

• Unavoidable heart attack risk factors include age, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI.) Men older than 45 and women older than 55 or who are post-menopausal can have a heart attack even without high blood pressure.

Smoking

• Cigarette smoking damages the blood vessels and contributes to artery blockage, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can cause a heart attack in people who do not suffer hypertension.

High Cholesterol

• High cholesterol, which can occur from eating too many fatty foods, can cause a heart attack, according to the NHLBI.

Overweight

• Being overweight causes the body to work much harder and can lead to a heart attack, according to the NHLBI. Those who are extremely overweight, or obese, are especially at risk for a heart attack.

High Blood Sugar

• High blood sugar, with or without the disease of diabetes, can create hardening of the arteries even without present hypertension, according to the NHLBI. This increases the risk of a heart attack.