In order to stop further organ damage, the first objective is to promptly lower the blood pressure with intravenous (IV) blood pressure drugs.
The terms "hypertensive crisis" and "hypertensive urgency" are interchangeable. Both of these disorders develop when blood pressure rises significantly and can lead to organ damage.
Blood pressure spikes and readings of 180/110 or higher are called hypertensive urgency, even if no organs are damaged. Blood pressure medications can safely lower blood pressure within hours.
A hypertensive emergency is an emergency in which organ damage is possible due to very high blood pressure. Imminent organ damage should be avoided by immediately lowering blood pressure.
Emergent hypertension is rare. Such cases often occur when high blood pressure is untreated, when people forget to take their blood pressure medicine, or when they take over-the-counter medicines that make high blood pressure worse.
The first objective is to promptly lower the blood pressure with intravenous (IV) blood pressure drugs.
