When blood pressure is high, the appropriate response depends on the severity and presence of symptoms:
If Blood Pressure is Moderately High (Hypertensive Urgency)
- If your blood pressure reading is 180/120 mm Hg or higher but you do not have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, vision changes, difficulty speaking, confusion, dizziness, or vomiting, this is considered hypertensive urgency.
- In this case, you should:
- Wait 1-2 minutes and retake your blood pressure to confirm.
- Contact your healthcare provider promptly for advice and possible medication adjustment.
- Avoid delaying care but hospitalization is usually not required immediately
If Blood Pressure is Very High with Symptoms (Hypertensive Emergency)
- If your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or higher and you experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, vision changes, or difficulty speaking, this is a hypertensive emergency.
- You should:
- Call 911 or seek emergency medical care immediately.
- Do not wait to see if your blood pressure lowers on its own.
- While waiting for help, sit upright, stay calm, and breathe deeply to reduce anxiety
Medical Treatment for Hypertensive Emergencies
- Treatment occurs in the emergency room or ICU with intravenous medications to gradually reduce blood pressure by about 20-25% within 1-2 hours, then more cautiously over the next 24-48 hours.
- Common IV medications include labetalol, clevidipine, nitroprusside, fenoldopam, and nicardipine.
- Oral medications are generally not used in emergencies due to unpredictable effects
Long-term Management to Lower High Blood Pressure
- Lifestyle changes can help manage high blood pressure and prevent crises:
- Eat a diet rich in potassium and low in salt, saturated fats, and processed foods.
- Engage in regular aerobic exercise (at least 150 minutes per week).
- Manage stress through mindfulness, support groups, and relaxation techniques like slow, deep breathing.
- Maintain good sleep hygiene with 7-9 hours of sleep per night
Summary
- For extremely high blood pressure with symptoms, call emergency services immediately.
- For very high blood pressure without symptoms, contact your healthcare provider promptly.
- Follow medical advice and treatment to safely lower blood pressure.
- Adopt healthy lifestyle habits to prevent high blood pressure and related emergencies.
This approach ensures safety and effective management of high blood pressure conditions
