We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Acute Hypertension?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 5,157
Share

Acute hypertension is high blood pressure which begins suddenly. It can cause severe damage to organs such as the kidneys, heart, and brain, and can even lead to death if it is not treated. Preventative steps can be taken to reduce the risk of developing acute hypertension. Once someone develops high blood pressure, there are a number of treatment options available to bring the blood pressure down and manage it in the future.

In primary hypertension, there is nothing associated with the high blood pressure which might explain the sudden elevation. Secondary hypertension is linked with a medical problem, such as kidney failure, emerging as a secondary symptom of an underlying disease. In both cases, acute hypertension is defined by the sudden onset of a blood pressure measurement of over 140/90.

Patients with acute hypertension can have symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and chest pains. If the blood pressure is very high, it may cause hemorrhages and can lead to strokes, which will cause neurological symptoms. In a hypertensive emergency, a patient has acute hypertension and is also experiencing failure of organ systems, such as the kidneys.

Immediate treatment for acute hypertension requires lowering the patient's blood pressure to reduce the risk of causing organ damage. This can be done with medications which will bring the patient's blood pressure down. Long term measures for controlling blood pressure and keeping it low can include diet and lifestyle changes as well as medications.

With blood pressure stabilized, a doctor can start to explore some of the causes for the rise in blood pressure. This is an important part of acute hypertension treatment. It may identify underlying medical conditions which need treatment or reveal that a treatment plan for a known condition is no longer effective. If there is an underlying cause for the hypertension, treating it will help with management high blood pressure in the future.

It is not uncommon for there to be no obvious cause of an episode of high blood pressure. There can also be circumstances in a patient's life which lead to a temporary blood pressure spike which may or may not recur again. Monitoring blood pressure in regular physical exams is a good idea, as it establishes a baseline normal blood pressure for the patient. Interviewing patients about changes in lifestyle or diet can help a doctor identify life events which might be contributing to the rise in blood pressure.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-acute-hypertension.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.