There is no number that causes a heart attack. So if your BP is say 236/120 for a few days nothing will happen. Or a brisk run or stress that drives up blood pressure for a few minutes or an hour is normal.

Its the prolonged high blood pressure for YEARS that damages permanently damages one’s heart. Yes, its the length of time that the heart sees this kind of a load that in the end causes damage to the hearts muscles, arteries, veins, valves and nearly every part of the heart. The liver, the kidneys and internal organs get damaged with high blood pressure for a prolonged period of time.

This is irrepairable, so it is important to do everything possible to lower it to at least the160/100 mark . That includes a crash diet to get off any extra pounds like now.

It is possible that if your mom has had this kind of a blood pressure for years, she has already damaged her heart and her liver and kidneys and of course that will geatly shorten her life. I dont mean to scare you, but I do want to scare you sufficiently to get mom to a Cartiologist immediately. Yes, a Cartiologist, not some Family Practice Doctor.

What your mom needs is a new medical advice and treatment of kind. . Even if you have to drive a long distance, go to somewhere like the Cleveland Clinic for treatment or in Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic. These are examples, so find the best Heart Hospital around. I am mentioning this because your mom needs special kind of help to combat this high blood pressure. Not some oridinary doctor or even an ordinary Cartiologist.

It is that important to get treatment right now at the level ive mentioned above.

high blood pressure can cause stroke more than heart attack. for heart attack can be triggered by high blood pressure builded up cholesterol or calcification of arteries of the heart. anyway. that is a very high BP. there is no absolute number for people to promise stroke or heart attack. but prolong to have high blood pressure can increase the chance. once a while to have high BP when anxious or in pain is ok. try to keep it under 160/90.

it varies on the person. some patients have no bp change while experiencing an MI.

High blood pressure is classified as >140/90. Your mom’s BP is too high. She could have a stroke. If she had that high of BP at the doctor’s office –she should have been referred to the hospital to be admitted by her doctor. If this a regular family physician ask for her to be referred to a cardiologist. I am a nurse and if a patient or family member of mine had a high BP especially as critical as your moms I would send them or take them to the hospital. Please call your moms doctor or your local hospital.