What is hypertensive emergency?

Answer 1

A hypertensive emergency (sometimes called malignant hypertension) is excessive blood pressure which causes damage to the brain, eyes, kidneys, or heart. The exact level of blood pressure is different for every person, but hypertensive emergency does not usually occur unless the blood pressure is higher than 220/120.

Some symptoms may include:

Brain: headache, confusion, stroke-like symptoms, difficulty speaking, vertigo

Eyes: vision loss, visual disturbances (flashing, dark spots), eye pain

Kidneys: renal failure, hematuria, decreased urine output

Heart: chest pain, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure

Treatment includes lowering the blood pressure by 20-30% within 1 hour, then return to more normal levels within 12-18 hours. If it is truly hypertensive emergency, this is accomplished with IV medications. The treatment requires hospitalization and stabilization.

Answer 2

Hypertension is a common ailment in adults. The diagnosis is made when the blood pressure is consistently over 140/90 for a period of time. Treatment is usually begun with diet and exercise, as well as avoiding salt and fatty foods. Moderate weight loss can have a profound effect on blood pressure. Hypertensive emergency or crisis is high blood pressure at any level with evidence of end organ damage, including altered mental status, stroke, seizure, heart attack, and renal failure. These patients require treatment in the emergency department with medications to lower their blood pressure over the next several minutes to hours. Hypertensive urgency is elevated blood pressure (usually over 180/110) without evidence of end organ damage. Patients with hypertension or hypertensive urgency do not need to go to the emergency department for treatment if they have reliable follow up with their primary care doctor.