Severe hypertension symptoms are caused by the very high blood pressure. Severe hypertension occurs when the systolic blood pressure is higher than 180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure is higher than 120 mmHg. This condition can lead to life-threatening complications that are usually considered hypertensive emergencies. Some of the most common medical conditions that may be caused by severe hypertension are strokes, acute myocardial infarction, aneurysm, pulmonary edema or unstable angina pectoris.
Severe pulmonary hypertension is the increased blood pressure in the pulmonary blood vessels, or what is called in medicine, lung vasculature. Severe pulmonary arterial hypertension is the same condition but which occurs in the pulmonary arteries and which can cause serious symptoms such as trouble breathing, fainting, and dizziness. It is a serious medical condition that can lead to heart failure and with a general poor prognosis. It is estimated that people with untreated severe hypertension live up to three years after the diagnosis has been established. Severe pulmonary hypertension is even more dangerous in pregnant women, cases in which the levels of mortality and morbidity are very high. Often, women who suffer from this condition are advised to not get pregnant as this may cause their death.
A severe hypertension diagnosis is established upon a medical physical examination and based on the results of several tests such as blood chemistry panel, urinalysis, and ECG and funduscopic examination. Most of the patients who are suspected of suffering of this condition are being taken chest radiographies, especially if cardiopulmonary symptoms exist. Urinalysis may reveal red blood cells, proteinuria or any other abnormality that would suggest renal parenchymal disease. A chemistry panel is ordered mainly because it can provide information on the existence of a renal or hepatic disease. The ECG is the main test that can reveal coronary ischemia, left ventricular hypertrophy or pulse deficits that can be caused by aortic dissection.
The severe hypertension treatments are intended to ease the symptoms and to keep under control the blood pressure. The key in treating this disease is however avoiding the risk factors. There are certain factors that one can avoid in order to lower the blood pressure, but there are also factors that one cannot do anything about such as family history of hypertension or severe hypertension. The first step in curing the condition is quitting smoking, even second hand smoking, avoiding alcohol abuse or excessive salt intake. People who do not exercise and also follow unhealthy diets rich in fat are prone to developing hypertension. Severe hypertension treatments include medication that reduces the blood pressure and a regular monitoring of one’s blood pressure. Often, it is an incurable disease especially in cases of essential or primary hypertension when the factor causing the disease is unknown. In these cases, patients must learn how to cope with the disease and what to do to keep their blood pressure within normal ranges such as avoiding strong emotions, getting angry and all other mentioned above risk factors.
To conclude, severe hypertension is a serious medical condition that requests medical care in order to avoid the possible complications. Any individual who experiences the severe hypertension symptoms that include headache crises, sleepiness or confusion should seek the opinion of a specialist.
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