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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.
For most people, recommendations are to reduce blood pressure to less than or equal to somewhere between 140/90 mmHg and 160/100 mmHg. [2] In general, for people with elevated blood pressure, attempting to achieve lower levels of blood pressure than the recommended 140/90 mmHg will create more harm than benefits, [3] in particular for older people. [4]
A hypertensive emergency is very high blood pressure with potentially life-threatening symptoms and signs of acute damage to one or more organ systems (especially brain, eyes, heart, aorta, or kidneys). It is different from a hypertensive urgency by this additional evidence for impending irreversible hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD).
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. [11] High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms itself. [ 1 ]
The high blood pressure is gradual at early stages and may take at least 10–15 years to fully develop. Besides diabetes, other factors that may also increase high blood pressure include obesity, insulin resistance and high cholesterol levels. In general, fewer than 25 percent of diabetics have good control of their blood pressure.
Other medications for high blood pressure and a low salt diet, e.g. DASH diet, may also be needed. [1] [4] Some people with familial hyperaldosteronism may be treated with the steroid dexamethasone. [1] Primary aldosteronism is present in about 10% of people with high blood pressure. [1] It occurs more often in women than men. [5]
Hypertensive encephalopathy (HE) is general brain dysfunction due to significantly high blood pressure. [3] Symptoms may include headache, vomiting, trouble with balance, and confusion. [1] Onset is generally sudden. [1] Complications can include seizures, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and bleeding in the back of the eye. [1] [3]
A diagram explaining factors affecting arterial pressure. Pathophysiology is a study which explains the function of the body as it relates to diseases and conditions. The pathophysiology of hypertension is an area which attempts to explain mechanistically the causes of hypertension, which is a chronic disease characterized by elevation of blood pressure.