Approved by Dr. Craig de WAAL
Medical Director – SignatureCare Emergency Center Austin, TX

ARTICLE SECTIONS

  1. What is Hypertension?
  2. Agreement Your Blood Pressure Numbers
  3. Hazard Factors for Hypertension
  4. Signs and Symptoms of Hypertension
  5. When is Loftier Blood Force per unit area an Emergency?
  6. Hypertensive Urgency
  7. Hypertensive Emergency
  8. What to Do if You Doubtable a Hypertensive Crunch
  9. Our SignatureCare

What is Hypertension?

The American Higher of Cardiology and the American Heart Association define hypertension every bit a consistent measurement of your claret pressure 130/lxxx mm Hg or higher.

Then, what does this mean?

It means that the forcefulness of your claret flowing through your blood vessels is too high and over time tin can cause damage to your organs.

If your primary care provider (PCP) suspects that you may have hypertension (high claret pressure), they volition measure out, record, and monitor your blood pressure numbers over time.

Your PCP may also inquire y'all to monitor your blood pressure on your own using a "self-serve" automobile or by using a home device to measure out your blood pressure.

Some people go anxious at the doctor'due south office and this anxiety tin cause their claret pressure to artificially increase only at the doctor'south role. This is referred to as "White Glaze Hypertension" and tin crusade y'all and your PCP to exist unnecessarily concerned and then information technology'southward important to check your blood force per unit area outside of your doctor'due south office if you lot doubtable this may be the case.

To be diagnosed with hypertension, you lot should have iii high blood pressure readings at 3 unlike times over a 6-month period.

Get ER Appointment - SignatureCare Emergency Center, Houston, TX

Understanding Your Blood Pressure Numbers

When you get your blood pressure (BP) taken, it is given as two numbers. For instance, you might be told that your claret pressure is 120/80.

This number is always written every bit a fraction and refers to two things happening in your heart. The top number in the fraction is called the Systolic pressure level (120/ten). This number measures the highest blood pressure level in your arteries when the heart muscle contracts.

The bottom number in the fraction is called the Diastolic pressure (x/80). This number measures the lowest blood pressure in your arteries when the heart is relaxed betwixt beats. Both numbers are of import in determining if your BP is normal or if you lot have hypertension.

High Blood Pressure (HBP) or Hypertension Numbers Chart

Adventure Factors for Hypertension

There are a number of factors that tin can put you at a greater run a risk for developing hypertension.

If you are aware of these risk factors and empathize how they can affect y'all, y'all may be less likely to develop high blood pressure level (HBP) or know y'all tin can help control it.

  • Family History: If you have a close blood relative (especially parents or siblings) with HBP, you lot are at a greater risk of developing it yourself.
  • Age: The older you get, the more likely y'all are to be diagnosed with HBP.
  • Gender: Males are more than probable to develop HBP earlier the historic period of 65. Women tend to develop hypertension over the age of 65.
  • Race: More than 4 in x African-Americans endure from high blood force per unit area. Hypertension in these individuals normally occurs earlier in life and is much more astringent.
  • Diabetes: More than 3 in 4 people with Diabetes are also diagnosed with Hypertension.
  • Lifestyle: The choices you make tin can decrease your risk of developing hypertension. These factors include diet, exercise, being overweight and the utilise of alcohol and tobacco. The good news is that, different the others, these risk factors tin can exist changed.

Signs and Symptoms

Many people may exist surprised that they tin have hypertension and not fifty-fifty know it. It is oft referred to as the "silent killer" because high blood pressure typically does not take whatsoever credible signs or symptoms.

Nigh of the damage to your trunk from high blood force per unit area takes place over a long flow of fourth dimension. Even so, some people do proceed to develop emergencies related to blood pressure level and may need urgent medical attention.

When is High Blood Force per unit area an Emergency?

The term hypertensive crisis is used to describe a quick and astringent rise in blood pressure with measurements over 180/120 which tin can quickly lead to consequences like stroke, center assault, kidney damage, loss of vision, or respiratory failure.

Unfortunately, some people accept very hard to control high blood pressures despite medication, and so we need to consider what is a normal blood pressure level for you equally nosotros decide what blazon of hypertensive crisis yous are experiencing.

One blazon of hypertensive crisis is milder and can be treated conservatively equally an outpatient. The other is very serious and requires immediate attention to prevent life-threatening complications.

Headache from High Blood Pressure

Hypertensive Urgency

If your claret pressure is 180/120 or higher the start thing you should do is: Do Not Panic; wait about 5 minutes and bank check your blood pressure again.

If the repeat remains elevated, just you are non suffering from any symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath, this is called Hypertensive Urgency and usually requires medication adjustment as an outpatient.

If yous are not currently taking any high blood pressure level medications, you may need to beginning them for whatsoever measured diastolic blood pressure of 110 mm Hg (10/110) or greater.

Hypertensive Emergency

If your claret pressure level is 180/120 or higher AND y'all are experiencing symptoms that could be related to your high blood force per unit area you lot should go to the Emergency Room immediately.

Symptoms such every bit chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, changes in vision, difficulty speaking, dizziness, numbness/weakness, or even upper back pain all are potential symptoms of life-threatening loftier claret pressure.

When markedly elevated blood pressure is combined with these signs of organ harm, this is called Hypertensive Emergency and ofttimes requires admission to the hospital for immediate treatment.

High Blood Pressure Check

What to do if You Doubtable a Hypertensive Crisis

If you suspect that you or someone else is experiencing a hypertensive crisis, these are the steps that should be taken:

  1. Check your claret pressure.
  2. If your blood pressure is elevated to 180/120 or higher and you ARE Not experiencing whatever severe symptoms, wait 5 minutes and accept it again. Attempt to relax (easier said than done!) considering anxiety can crusade falsely elevated blood pressure level readings.
  3. If the repeat BP measurement is the same or college and so y'all should seek medical attention. Call your Primary Care Provider beginning for instructions on medication adjustment and/or follow-up. If you cannot reach them, go to the Emergency Room.
  4. If your claret pressure is elevated to 180/120 or higher and you lot ARE experiencing warning symptoms (chest pain/upper back pain, shortness of breath, astringent headache, dizziness, numbness/weakness, loss of vision, or difficulty speaking) then do not wait to recheck your blood pressure level and instead you should go immediately to the Emergency Room for evaluation.

Our SignatureCare

At SignatureCare Emergency Centers nosotros are ready 24/7 and 365 days a year to treat your emergency medical conditions. Our physicians are all Board Certified Emergency Physicians with years of experience treating all types of life-threatening problems, including Hypertensive Emergencies. Fifty-fifty if you're not sure that you are having a Hypertensive Crisis, nosotros welcome y'all to come in for a medical screening evaluation with a blood pressure bank check and to discuss your symptoms. Our luxury ER's all have state-of-the-art technology with top-notch customer intendance and nosotros are open 24 hours near you.