“May all be happy, may all be healed, may all be at peace and may no one ever suffer."
A hypertensive crisis is a severe increase in blood pressure that can cause organ damage and is considered a medical emergency. There are two types of hypertensive crises: hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency.
Hypertensive urgency is when blood pressure is severely elevated (usually above 180/110 mmHg), but there is no evidence of acute organ damage. Patients with hypertensive urgency may experience symptoms such as severe headache, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, or anxiety. Treatment for hypertensive urgency involves the use of oral antihypertensive medications to gradually lower blood pressure over several hours to days.
Hypertensive emergency is when there is evidence of acute organ damage due to severely elevated blood pressure (usually above 180/120 mmHg). Patients with hypertensive emergency may experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, confusion, or seizures. This condition requires immediate hospitalization and treatment with intravenous medications to lower blood pressure quickly.
The causes of hypertensive crisis can vary but are often related to a sudden increase in blood pressure due to the use of medications, drug use, kidney disease, or other medical conditions. It is essential to seek medical attention immediately if you experience any symptoms of a hypertensive crisis.
Prevention of hypertensive crisis involves regular blood pressure monitoring, adherence to prescribed medications, and lifestyle modifications such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress reduction techniques. If you have hypertension, it is important to work with your healthcare provider to develop a treatment plan that is right for you to prevent complications such as hypertensive crisis.