Blood Pressure Management

High Blood Pressure and Hypertensive Crisis

Hypertensive Emergency

Symptoms of Hypertensive Emergency

Diagnosing Hypertensive Emergency

What's the Treatment for Hypertensive Emergency and Associated Organ Damage?

Hypertensive crisis is an umbrella term for hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency. These two conditions occur when blood pressure becomes very high, possibly causing organ damage.

Hypertensive Urgency

Hypertensive urgency occurs when blood pressure spikes -- blood pressure readings are 180/110 or higher -- but there is no damage to the body's organs. Blood pressure can be brought down safely within a few hours with blood pressure medication.

Hypertensive Emergency

Hypertensive emergency means blood pressure is so high that organ damage can occur. Blood pressure must be reduced immediately to prevent imminent organ damage. 

Organ damage associated with hypertensive emergency may include:

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

 Medically Reviewed by James Beckerman, MD, FACC on September 01, 2021

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