Prevent high blood pressure from permanently disabling or killing you in your home. Knowing how to recognize the symptoms of a hypertensive crisis will help you swiftly take action to avoid severe consequences.
homeemergency.wordpress.com gathered the following information to help you recognize when your blood pressure is dangerously high, what can cause this condition, potential collateral damages, how to lower your blood pressure, and how to control it.
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
Unfortunately, high blood pressure usually has no advanced signs or symptoms, and many with hypertension do not know they have it or are aware of the damages it is causing. Measuring your blood pressure is truly the only way to know whether you have high blood pressure or not.
However, depending on a person’s overall health and sensitivity, any of the following symptoms may be present during a sudden hypertensive crisis:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Severe and sudden back pain
- Severe or piercing headache
- Heart palpitations (irregular beating) and a pounding sensation in the ears and neck
- Problems or a change with your vision
- Extreme or sudden Fatigue
- Confusion and difficulty completing simple tasks
Note: When hypertension is accompanied by chest pain or irregular heartbeats, call 9-1-1 immediately for instruction and help (you could be dealing with a heart attack).
Warning: Signs and symptoms of hypertension aren’t specific and usually will not occur until your high blood pressure has reached a critical or life-threatening stage.
Treatment for High Blood Pressure
If you determine that you or a loved one is having a hypertensive urgency (180/120), reach out to your primary care physician for instruction.
A hypertensive emergency occurs if that measurement (180/120) is accompanied by numbness, chest or back pain, or other contributing symptoms, dial 9-1-1 for instruction and emergency assistance.
If you are having a hypertensive urgency, the following can help lower your blood pressure:
- If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) without any complications, the first thing to do is calm down, lie flat, and take long deep breaths.
- Get into a warm bath or shower. Stay in your shower or bath for 10 to 15 minutes and let the warm water calm your senses and nerves.
- Start a breathing exercise. Take a deep breath, hold it for about two seconds, then slowly exhale.
- Drink water to ensure proper hydration.
- Relax.
Long term treatment may include:
- Regular visits to your primary care physician and/or cardiologist
- Losing weight
- Increasing physical activity
- Quitting smoking and all tobacco product consumption
- Reduce salt (sodium) in your diet
- Increase (if needed) iron and potassium levels
- Reduce or cease alcohol consumption
- Lower your stress levels
Note: It is imperative that you stabilize and lower your blood pressure. The excessive pressure on your artery walls can severely damage your blood vessels and organs. The higher your blood pressure is and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the more severe the damage.
What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
High blood pressure is blood pressure that is higher than normal (120/80 is universally considered normal). Your blood pressure can change throughout the day based on the type and duration of your activities. Having blood pressure readings consistently above normal may result in a diagnosis of high blood pressure.
Tip: The higher your average blood pressure levels are, the more at risk you are for other health problems, like kidney failure, heart disease, congestive heart failure, heart attack, and stroke.
What Is Normal Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is measured and calculated using two numbers:
Systolic blood pressure measures pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.
Diastolic blood pressure measures pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.
If the measurement reads 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, “120 over 80,” or “120/80 mmHg.” A measurement of 120 over 80 or lower is considered normal.
Complications Caused by High Blood Pressure
Prolonged or chronic hypertension can lead to a wide variety of medical problems and complications, including:
Memory, Comprehension, or Understanding – Uncontrolled high blood pressure can adversely affect your clear thinking, as well as your ability to remember and learn.
Dementia – Narrowed or blocked arteries (caused by hypertension) can limit blood flow and oxygenation to the brain, leading to vascular dementia.
Narrowed Blood Vessels in the Kidneys – Your long-term high blood pressure can prevent your kidneys from functioning normally.
Thickened, Hardened, Narrowed, or Torn Blood Vessels in the Eyes – Hypertension can quickly result in vision changes and loss.
Heart Attack or Stroke – High blood pressure can result in a heart attack, stroke, or other severe complications.
Aneurysm – hypertension can cause your blood vessels to weaken and bulge, developing an aneurysm. Aneurysms can be life-threatening when they rupture.
Heart failure – To pump blood against the higher pressure in your vessels, the heart has to work harder. Eventually, your heart may have a hard time pumping enough blood to meet your body’s needs, resulting in shortness of breath, edema, confusion, and other common symptoms accompanying heart failure.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a hypertensive crisis and cannot get your blood pressure to come down, DO NOT WAIT; dial 9-1-1 for emergency assistance.
In this type of medical emergency, minutes matter.
Hypertensive Crisis
In this article, you discovered how to detect a hypertensive crisis, contributing factors to this condition, potential damages caused by hypertension, how to get your blood pressure back to a normal reading, and how to keep it under control.
Lowering your blood pressure during and after a hypertensive crisis can prevent a stroke, heart failure, and aneurysms from causing sudden life-threatening conditions or long-term disabilities.
Ignoring your hypertensive state could cause irreparable organ damage, leading to severe respiratory problems, kidney failure, heart attack, hospitalization, and death.
Sources:
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410
cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm
heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings/hypertensive-crisis-when-you-should-call-911-for-high-blood-pressure
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