Last week, we talked about the importance of measuring blood pressure correctly. Today, we’ll shift to the more urgent topic of hypertensive crisis. While most people with high blood pressure never experience this, it’s important to know what it is, how to recognize it, and what to do if it happens to you or a loved one.
What Is a Hypertensive Crisis?
A hypertensive crisis is a severe rise in blood pressure to 180/120 mmHg or higher. This can happen gradually or quite suddenly. This level of blood pressure elevation can quickly damage organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.
There are two types:- Hypertensive Urgency – Blood pressure is extremely high, but there are no symptoms or signs of organ damage. People may feel fine or have mild symptoms such as headache or anxiety.
- Hypertensive Emergency – Blood pressure is extremely high with evidence of organ damage. This is life-threatening and requires immediate treatment in the emergency department.
What Symptoms Should You Watch For?
Symptoms vary depending on whether organ damage is occurring.
Possible symptoms of hypertensive urgency include:
- Mild headache
- Anxiety
- Nosebleed
- Shortness of breath
Symptoms of hypertensive emergency may include:
- Chest pain
- Severe headache
- Confusion or altered mental status
- Sudden vision changes – May include blurry vision, loss of vision in one eye, sensation of a curtain coming down to cover your eye. Vision loss in one eye can sometimes be difficult to notice unless you close each eye independently.
- Shortness of breath
- Seizures
- Weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking (possible stroke symptoms)
These symptoms reflect the strain dangerously high blood pressure can place on the heart, brain, and other organs.
What Should You Do If You Get a Very High Blood Pressure Reading at Home?
If your home blood pressure monitor reads 180/120 mmHg or higher, experts recommend that you should:
- Sit quietly for one minute, then recheck.
- If the second reading is still high, look for symptoms.
- If you have ANY concerning symptoms, call 911.
- If you have no symptoms, contact your doctor promptly for guidance.
Do not wait hours to see if it improves! Hypertensive emergencies can escalate quickly.
Next week, we will talk more about hypertensive crises, including possible causes and how they are diagnosed and treated..
If you have any questions about hypertensive crisis, please log into your account and send us your question. We are here to help.
Dr. Anita Bennett MD – Health Tip Content Editor