Hypertensive crisis

From WikiMD's medical encyclopedia

Dr.Prab.jpg

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Hypertensive crisis
227 over 93 hypertension.jpg
Synonyms N/A
Pronounce N/A
Specialty N/A
Symptoms Severe headache, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, severe anxiety
Complications Stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, aortic dissection
Onset Sudden
Duration Variable
Types N/A
Causes Poorly controlled hypertension, medication noncompliance, pheochromocytoma, renal artery stenosis
Risks Chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption
Diagnosis Blood pressure measurement, clinical evaluation
Differential diagnosis Panic attack, anxiety disorder, pheochromocytoma
Prevention Regular blood pressure monitoring, medication adherence, lifestyle modification
Treatment Antihypertensive medication, hospitalization
Medication Nitroprusside, labetalol, nicardipine
Prognosis Variable, depends on promptness of treatment
Frequency Common in individuals with uncontrolled hypertension
Deaths N/A


A hypertensive crisis is a severe increase in blood pressure that can lead to a stroke. Extremely high blood pressure — a top number (systolic pressure) of 180 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or higher or a bottom number (diastolic pressure) of 120 mm Hg or higher — can damage blood vessels. The blood vessels become inflamed and may leak fluid or blood. As a result, the heart may not be able to pump blood effectively.

Types of Hypertensive Crisis

There are two types of hypertensive crises: hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency.

Hypertensive Urgency

In a hypertensive urgency, blood pressure is extremely high, but there is no associated organ damage. Patients may experience severe headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds, but these symptoms are not life-threatening. Treatment often involves oral antihypertensive medications and close monitoring.

Hypertensive Emergency

A hypertensive emergency is a situation where high blood pressure results in damage to organs. This can include encephalopathy, myocardial infarction, pulmonary edema, or aortic dissection. Immediate hospitalization and intravenous antihypertensive medications are required to prevent further organ damage.

Causes

Hypertensive crises can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

Symptoms

Symptoms of a hypertensive crisis can vary depending on the severity and type. Common symptoms include:

  • Severe headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nosebleeds
  • Severe anxiety
  • Chest pain
  • Confusion
  • Blurred vision

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of a hypertensive crisis involves measuring blood pressure and assessing for signs of organ damage. Additional tests may include:

Treatment

The treatment of a hypertensive crisis depends on whether it is a hypertensive urgency or emergency. In a hypertensive urgency, oral medications such as labetalol, captopril, or clonidine may be used. In a hypertensive emergency, intravenous medications such as nitroprusside, nicardipine, or labetalol are administered.

Prevention

Preventing a hypertensive crisis involves managing hypertension through lifestyle changes and medication adherence. Regular monitoring of blood pressure, maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol can help prevent hypertensive crises.

See also



Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Transform your life with W8MD's budget GLP-1 injections from $125.

W8mdlogo.png
W8MD weight loss doctors team

W8MD offers a medical weight loss program to lose weight in Philadelphia. Our physician-supervised medical weight loss provides:

NYC weight loss doctor appointments

Start your NYC weight loss journey today at our NYC medical weight loss and Philadelphia medical weight loss clinics.

Linkedin_Shiny_Icon Facebook_Shiny_Icon YouTube_icon_(2011-2013) Google plus


Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD