Diseases & Conditions

When Is Blood Pressure High Enough for a Hospital Visit?

When you’re experiencing a hypertensive crisis due to inordinately high blood pressure, it’s imperative that it’s dealt with immediately. When your blood pressure rises too quickly or is continuously resting in a high state, it can indicate potential underlying problems or cause a range of other health concerns.

But how do you know when a blood pressure spike warrants a trip to the hospital? It’s essential to know the blood pressure signs that indicate a 911 call is needed. In this article, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of high blood pressure and what determines a hypertensive crisis that should be dealt with right away.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a medical condition that occurs when your internal blood pressure against your blood vessel walls is regularly too high and strong.

For a person to be considered having high blood pressure, their systolic pressure would need to register regularly above 130, and their diastolic pressure would need to be above 80.

When a person has consistently high blood pressure, it can have an extensive impact on their health – here’s how:

  • Angina – This condition can occur over time when a person continues to have high blood pressure caused by heart disease or microvascular disease. Angina is essentially another term for chest pain.
  • Kidney Disease – Kidney disease can occur when blood flow is restricted due to high blood pressure. Continued high blood pressure can lead to kidneys having a problem with properly filtering out the blood as needed.
  • Peripheral Artery Disease – Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is caused when high blood pressure leads to arteries narrowing in the stomach, head, leg, and arm areas. This condition generally leads to increased fatigue and pain.
  • Heart Failure – When the heart is enlarged due to inadequate blood supply resulting from high blood pressure, it can lead to heart failure.
  • Metabolic Syndrome – When metabolic syndrome is diagnosed as a result of high blood pressure, it refers to several simultaneous symptoms. Symptoms of metabolic syndrome can include poor levels of good cholesterol (HDL), high blood sugar, continued high blood pressure, change in body shape, and high triglyceride levels.
  • Vision Loss – Vision loss can occur when high blood pressure restricts blood circulation to the eyes.
  • Heart Attack – When arteries are damaged from high blood pressure, it can cause lower blood flow to the heart and lead to a heart attack.
  • Lower Libido or Erectile Dysfunction – Blood flow issues resulting from high blood pressure can lead to sexual dysfunction in both men and women.
  • Stroke – When high blood pressure leads to blood vessels in the brain becoming blocked or clogged, it can lead to strokes occurring.

Outside of these serious side effects, uncontrolled or undetected blood pressure can also lead to a hypertensive crisis; this can cause even more urgent problems.

What Levels Equal a Hypertensive Crisis?

While over time blood pressure can lead to a barrage of urgent medical conditions, when blood pressure enters into a hypertensive crisis state, it can lead to an urgent need for emergency care. For blood pressure to be considered a hypertensive crisis, it needs to quickly rise to a systolic level of 180 or more and a diastolic level of 120 or more.

There are two types of hypertensive crisis, and it’s essential to know how to approach each one:

  • Hypertensive Urgency – A hypertensive crisis is considered urgent when it spikes above the 180/120 numbers and stays that way through a second check five minutes later, but there are no other symptoms involved, such as:
    • Pain
    • Shortness of breath
    • Chest pain
    • Slurring or difficulty speaking
    • Weakness
    • Numbness
    • Vision impairment
    • Seizures
    • Severe Anxiety
    • Headache
    • Confusion
    • Nosebleeds
    • Unresponsiveness

It is still crucial that you contact your doctor when this occurs, as they may instruct you to change medications or take other actions. Hypertensive urgency does not usually result in urgent care or hospitalization.

  • Hypertensive Emergency – A hypertensive crisis is considered an emergency when any of the symptoms below are experienced in conjunction with a blood pressure spike to 180/120 or higher:
    • Pain
    • Shortness of breath
    • Chest pain
    • Slurring or difficulty speaking
    • Weakness
    • Seizures
    • Severe Anxiety
    • Numbness
    • Vision impairment
    • Headache
    • Confusion
    • Nosebleeds
    • Unresponsiveness

In this case, it’s vital that you call 911 right and seek emergency care.

What Causes a Hypertensive Crisis to Occur?

Hypertensive crises can occur from a number of different factors. Some common causes can include, but are not limited to:

  • Forgetting to take blood pressure medication
  • A reaction to blood pressure medication
  • Medication interactions
  • Unchecked high blood pressure
  • Pregnancy-induced preeclampsia
  • Pregnancy-induced eclampsia
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Kidney failure
  • Aorta rupture
  • Heart failure

What Problems Can Result from Inordinately High Blood Pressure?

Untreated or extremely elevated blood pressure can lead to a variety of symptoms and conditions that can cause problems with various internal organs. Here’s an idea of potential issues that can result from inordinately high blood pressure:

  • Kidney failure
  • Stroke
  • Heart attack
  • Eye damage
  • Memory loss
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Fluid in the lungs
  • Aortic dissection

Preventing High Blood Pressure

Taking steps to reduce or prevent high blood pressure is one of the most important things you can do. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your chances of hypertension or a hypertensive emergency:

  • Stop Smoking – By quitting smoking, you can lower your risk for stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure tremendously.
  • Limit Alcohol – Alcohol is known to raise blood pressure. Limiting your alcohol consumption can help keep your blood pressure levels in check.
  • Exercise – Regular physical activity is excellent for a lot of things, including lowering your blood pressure. It’s generally recommended that adults get about 30 minutes of exercise five days a week.
  • Sleep – According to the CDC, getting enough sleep is important for heart health and blood pressure regulation.
  • Eat Healthily – High salt and saturated fats diets can contribute to elevated blood pressure levels. Eating a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients can help. Try speaking with your doctor or a nutritionist for advice.
  • Lose Weight – By keeping your weight at a healthy level, you can reduce your chances of high blood pressure or other health problems.
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