Contents:
- Medical Video: High Blood Pressure | Hypertension | Nucleus Health
- What is malignant hypertension?
- What are the signs and symptoms caused by malignant hypertension?
- Are there complications caused by emergency hypertension?
- How do doctors diagnose emergency hypertension?
- How to handle it?
Medical Video: High Blood Pressure | Hypertension | Nucleus Health
Are the results of your blood pressure test often increasing? Do not underestimate high blood pressure, especially if the development is very rapid. This condition is called malignant hypertension. So, what are the symptoms and how to overcome them? Check out the full review here.
What is malignant hypertension?
Malignant hypertension (emergency hypertension) is an increase in blood pressure that develops very rapidly, reaching up to 180/120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Though generally, normal blood pressure ranges below 120/80 mm Hg.
Generally, malignant hypertension is caused by the presence of high blood pressure. But besides that, reported from the WebMD page, certain medical conditions can also trigger the emergence of malignant hypertension, such as:
- Kidney illness
- Injury to the spinal cord nerve in the spine
- Tumor in the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma)
- Use of certain drugs, such as birth control pills and MAOI
- Use of illegal drugs
- Preeclampsia in pregnant women
This type of hypertension cannot be underestimated because it can easily attack organs in the body, especially the eyes, brain, heart and kidneys. Therefore, a person must get medical treatment as soon as possible if he develops malignant hypertension. If not, then organ damage can be more severe and serious.
What are the signs and symptoms caused by malignant hypertension?
As mentioned earlier, the first symptom that marks malignant hypertension is a very rapid increase in blood pressure, exceeding 180/120 mm Hg. While other symptoms depend on how the organs in the body react after blood pressure increases.
Usually emergency hypertension will attack the eye area, so that it will cause bleeding and swelling in the small blood vessels in the retina. This condition can cause problems with your vision. In addition, the symptoms that can also be caused by hypertension include:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizzy
- Numbness in the arms, legs and face
- Severe headache
- Hard to breathe
In other cases, emergency hypertension can cause swelling of the brain. If this happens, the signs and symptoms that appear are:
- Loss of consciousness
- Coma
- Confusion (absent-minded)
- Headaches are getting worse
- Nausea and vomiting
Are there complications caused by emergency hypertension?
If this emergency hypertension is not treated immediately, it can increase the risk of complications from various other diseases, such as:
- Dissection of the aorta, which is the main blood vessel from the heart bursts suddenly
- Pulmonary edema, accumulates fluid in the lungs
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Kidney failure
That is why, if you experience an emergency hypertension condition, you should immediately contact your doctor or nearest health service. Because, rapid medical treatment will reduce the chance of emergence of complications that can be life threatening.
How do doctors diagnose emergency hypertension?
Initially if you don't know it, the doctor will ask all your medical history, including medications and any treatments you have done to treat high blood pressure. Next, the doctor will measure blood pressure, check if there is damage to the retinal blood vessels, and discuss what signs and symptoms you experience, the point is to determine whether further examination is needed or not.
If yes, then some of the following checks can be selected:
- Tests for measuring blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels
- Blood test to check cardiac enzymes
- Echocardiography to see heart function
- Electrocardiography (ECG) for heart record
- Urine test to check kidney function
- CT scan or MRI in the brain to determine bleeding or stroke
- X-rays or X-rays to check the condition of the heart and lungs
How to handle it?
Maglinal hypertension is an emergency that can be life threatening so it needs medical help as soon as possible. Your doctor will usually consider the symptoms that arise as well as your overall health condition, before deciding on the best treatment plan for you.
Treatments that can be given include administration of high blood pressure medication or antihypertensive drugs, which are given intravenously or infused. After your blood pressure has stabilized, your doctor will prescribe oral blood pressure medication (drink). These drugs aim to make it easier for you to control blood pressure at home. Other treatments may be given depending on the symptoms and causes of hypertension that you experience.
In essence, if you have been diagnosed with emergency hypertension, then you should obey all recommendations from the doctor who handles you. For example, do routine checks to monitor blood pressure, and do not forget to take drugs that have been prescribed regularly.
