So, high blood pressure is your new challenge? No problem, take some medication, and all is well, right? Hold on a second! Even when managed with medication, high blood pressure can still be a sneaky contributor to a heart attack. The surprising connection? High blood pressure and heart attacks share the exact underlying cause: inflammation.

High blood pressure has become as common as morning coffee in today’s fast-paced world. Because it’s so common many people consider it an inevitable part of life. But don’t be fooled. Unfortunately, high blood pressure isn’t as harmless as the medical establishment has made it out to be. It’s more like a silent time bomb, playing a significant role in setting off heart attacks.

But before your heart starts racing, let’s step back. Your path doesn’t have to lead to literal heartbreak and hospital visits. Instead, an arsenal of natural and potent strategies can simultaneously tackle these health conditions.

What is high blood pressure?

Think of your blood vessels as a garden hose. When the pressure is just right, water flows smoothly and effortlessly through the hose. It reaches your plants with just the right amount of force. That’s your blood in a healthy state, flowing through your veins and arteries, delivering life-giving nutrients to your body’s cells.

Now, imagine turning the tap wide open. The water rushes through the hose with so much force that it could damage the plants. Similarly, high blood pressure results when the blood’s force against your vessel walls is consistently too strong.

Like a fraction in math class, hypertension consists of two numbers. The top number, or systolic pressure, is the pressure when the heart beats. Conversely, the bottom number, or diastolic pressure, is the calm between the beats. Just like Goldilocks, the blood pressure is best when not too high or too low. A 120/80 mm Hg reading or slightly below is just right.

What is a heart attack?

In a world where everything is constantly on the move, our hearts are no different. It’s an unrelenting engine, as necessary for life as the very oxygen we inhale. But what if there’s a sudden kink in the machinery?

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is precisely that kink. It’s like a car accident on a busy highway that shuts down the road. No one can reach their destination until the blockage is clear.

During a heart attack, blood flow to the heart is interrupted by a blockage called plaque. If this disruption lasts too long, oxygen and other nutrients vital for the heart muscle’s function can not reach the heart – leaving it deprived of what it needs. If this disruption lasts too long, the heart muscle begins to suffer and, eventually, die.

Understanding plaque

Plaque is often gravely misunderstood. Plaque is a sticky substance made of fat, cholesterol, and other materials. Of course, cholesterol is at the heart of it all, a waxy substance that circulates in our blood. But it’s not the cholesterol itself that’s the villain – it’s what happens when it becomes oxidized and lodged in the arterial walls, creating this sticky deposit known as plaque.

Imagine your blood vessels as highways and cholesterol as cars traveling on these highways. Some cars are small and compact, while others are larger and roomier. These cars are the lipoproteins carrying cholesterol, with the small ones posing a higher risk of mishaps – or in medical terms, damaging the endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels. These smaller, more dangerous vehicles can lead to plaque formation. This plaque buildup is called atherosclerosis, and it can cause several significant issues.

High blood pressure and heart attack connection

High blood pressure works like a hostile takeover in your body. Atherosclerosis is like a river narrowing, causing the water – or in this case, blood – to flow with greater force. The pressure and the resulting damage then set the stage for a heart attack, transforming what might seem like an everyday health issue into a serious cardiac threat.

Imagine a small log lodged between some rocks on a riverbed. As the river flows slowly and peacefully, the log remains in place. However, if a big rainstorm rolls through, the river begins to flow with greater force. The likelihood of that log becoming dislodged from the rocks and floating down the river increases.

The same holds for blood pressure. Plaque may be secure enough to stay put with normal blood pressure. However, when blood pressure spikes, it strains the thin wall of plaque. As a result, the plaque can break open and form a clot. This clot then gets swept away by the high pressure, causing a heart attack in the heart.

High blood pressure sets the stage for a heart attack in the following ways:

• High blood pressure can sneak up on you, and it’s often a silent side effect of atherosclerosis. This condition tightens the grip on your arteries, constricting blood flow. When the arteries become too narrow, a potential heart attack could be waiting just around the bend.

•  High pressure of blood consistently damages the arterial walls, causing an accumulation of plaque. More plaque equals a higher chance of a heart attack.

• Arterial damage may stimulate the formation of blood clots as the body attempts to heal. If a clot obstructs an artery supplying blood to the heart, it triggers a heart attack.

• High blood pressure puts your heart under stress, causing it to work harder. The outcome? A heart that’s thicker, less flexible, and less efficient – leaving it vulnerable to heart attacks.

In essence, high blood pressure is like a toxic friend or family member. At first, they may appear relatively benign. However, before you know it, they’ve caused a chain reaction of drama that ends in a full-blown crisis. The impact of high blood pressure is not confined to one area. Rather, it permeates your entire cardiovascular system, setting up numerous pitfalls that could lead to a cardiac crisis.

Think of it as a precarious game of Jenga but with much higher stakes. Each block you carefully pull from the tower is a piece of your heart health puzzle. Maybe it’s the strength of your arteries, the pumping power of your heart, or the smooth sailing of your blood flow. When high blood pressure enters the game, it’s like that overeager player who yanks a block from the bottom. Suddenly, the whole structure is teetering, the balance is off, and the tower’s collapse – your potential heart attack – is a real and pressing danger.

Next Steps

If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, don’t downplay the significance of this disease. Our bodies are brilliant, giving us early warning signals that, when ignored, may lead to catastrophe.

But it’s not all about popping pills. The road to managing high blood pressure isn’t paved solely with prescriptions. Instead, many proactive steps must be taken, and we can guide you on this journey. Our online course, Natural Treatment Solutions for High Blood Pressure, is a treasure trove of knowledge and resources. With lifetime access, you’ll delve into seven comprehensive learning modules, discover meal plans to nourish your body and mind and unlock a host of tools to keep high blood pressure and heart attacks at bay. Your journey towards your 100 year heart starts here.