Hypertensive emergency (blood pressure emergency)

About Hypertensive emergency (blood pressure emergency)

Severe elevation of blood pressure with acute damage of an organ system (usually the brain, heart and/or kidneys) and possibly permanent damage. To reverse the damage the blood pressure should be lowered aggressively over minutes to hours. Triggers include: not taking blood pressure medications, abruptly stopping a blood pressure medication, drugs abuse (cocaine, methamphetamine), severe elevation of thyroid hormone, and taking certain over the counter medications.

Symptoms

Chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, confusion, weakness, fatigue, lethargy, decreased urine output.

Tests & Diagnostics

A history and physical exam will be performed with frequent measures of the blood pressure. Tests may be performed to identify the cause of the severe hypertension and to detect organ damage.

Common tests: Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, EKG, Troponin, X-ray.

Conventional treatment summary

This condition is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment including intravenous medications to reduce the blood pressure, cardiac monitoring, and hospitalization. Other treatments will depend on which organs are affected.

Medical specialties

Cardiology · Pediatric Cardiology

This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Hypertensive emergency (blood pressure emergency).