Hypertensive crisis | |
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Other names | Malignant hypertension, accelerated hypertension |
A systolic hypertensive crisis as measured on a home automated arm blood pressure monitor, showing an extremely elevated systolic blood pressure of 227, a mildly elevated diastolic blood pressure of 93 and a very fast tachycardic heart rate of 162 beats per minute. | |
Specialty | Cardiology |
Symptoms | Headache, dizziness, malaise, shortness of breath, some cases asymptomatic |
Complications | Hypertensive emergency |
Treatment | Gradual reduction of blood pressure |
Medication | Antihypertensives |
Severely elevated blood pressure (equal to or greater than 180 mmHg systolic or 120 mmHg diastolic) is referred to as a hypertensive crisis (sometimes termed malignant or accelerated hypertension), due to the high risk of complications. People with blood pressures in this range may have no symptoms, but are more likely to report headaches (22% of cases)[1] and dizziness than the general population.[2] Other symptoms accompanying a hypertensive crisis may include visual deterioration due to retinopathy, breathlessness due to heart failure, or a general feeling of malaise due to kidney failure.[3]
Most people with a hypertensive crisis are known to have elevated blood pressure, but additional triggers may have led to a sudden rise.[4]