X

Consumer Privacy Notice

Visit the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Privacy Policy and St. Elizabeth Physician's Privacy Policy for details regarding the categories of personal information collected through St. Elizabeth website properties and the organizational purpose(s) for which the information will be used to improve your digital consumer/patient experience. We do not sell or rent personally-identifying information collected.

Hypertensive crisis: What are the symptoms?

What's a hypertensive crisis? If I have a spike in my blood pressure, what should I do?

Updated: 2024-06-19


Answer Section

A hypertensive crisis is a sudden, severe increase in blood pressure. The blood pressure reading is 180/120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or greater. A hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. It can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening health problems. Seek emergency medical help for anyone with these blood pressure numbers.

Severely high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and body organs, including the:

  • Heart.
  • Brain.
  • Kidneys.
  • Eyes.

During a hypertensive crisis, the heart may not be able to pump blood as well as it should.

There are two types of hypertensive crises.

  • Urgent hypertensive crisis. Blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater. There are no signs of organ damage.
  • Emergency hypertensive crisis. Blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater. There is life-threatening damage to the body's organs.

Causes of a hypertensive crisis include:

  • Forgetting to take blood pressure medicine.
  • Suddenly stopping certain heart medicines, including beta blockers.
  • Medicine interactions.
  • Tumor of the adrenal gland, called a pheochromocytoma.

Symptoms of a hypertensive crisis may include:

  • Anxiety.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Chest pain.
  • Confusion.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Not responding to stimulation, called unresponsiveness.
  • Seizures.
  • Severe headache.
  • Shortness of breath.

If you get a very high blood pressure reading at home and don't have any symptoms, relax for a few minutes. Then check your blood pressure again. If it's still very high, seek medical care.

Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke. Stroke symptoms include:

  • Numbness or tingling.
  • Loss of feeling in the face, arm or leg, often on just one side of the body.
  • Trouble walking.
  • Trouble speaking.
  • Changes in vision.

Treatment for a hypertensive crisis may include a hospital stay to watch for organ damage. Medicines to lower blood pressure are given by mouth or IV.