High blood pressure, caused by lifestyle issues like obesity and not getting enough exercise, among other causes, is a serious disease. If it gets too high, specifically 180/120 or higher, and you have the symptoms listed here, you need to call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Your blood pressure is considered high (stage 1) if it reads 130/80. Stage 2 high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/110 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away. A reading this high is considered “hypertensive crisis.”
The European Society of Cardiology²¹ recommends that people lay down and take naps during midday to help lower their pressure levels. Additionally, the American College of Cardiology claims that the average systolic blood pressure drops by about 3 mm Hg²² for each hour one lays down for a nap.
High blood pressure is something that can be monitored and treated, but there is a level when immediate action must be taken. A blood pressure over 200 in an elderly person is considered an emergency. It can lead to heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening health issues.
Common causes of high blood pressure spikes
Caffeine. Certain medications (such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or combinations of medications. Chronic kidney disease. Cocaine use.
In other words, once blood pressure rises above normal, subtle but harmful brain changes can occur rather quickly—perhaps within a year or two. And those changes may be hard to reverse, even if blood pressure is nudged back into the normal range with treatment.
A hypertensive crisis is a sudden, severe increase in blood pressure. The blood pressure reading is 180/120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or greater. A hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. It can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening health problems.
Having high blood pressure can increase a person's risk of having a stroke. A reading of 180/120 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or greater requires immediate medical attention. Managing blood pressure is an important step for someone to take to help reduce stroke risk.
High blood pressure, caused by lifestyle issues like obesity and not getting enough exercise, among other causes, is a serious disease. If it gets too high, specifically 180/120 or higher, and you have the symptoms listed here, you need to call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Drinking water can help normalize blood pressure. If you are dehydrated, it can also help lower blood pressure.
Getting fewer than seven to nine hours of sleep each night increases your risk of developing high blood pressure, which is also called hypertension. If you already have hypertension, poor sleep quality might make the condition worse.
In a hypertensive emergency, the first goal is to bring down the blood pressure as quickly as possible with intravenous (IV) blood pressure medications to prevent further organ damage. Whatever organ damage has occurred is treated with therapies specific to the organ that is damaged.
According to the American Heart Association, when blood pressure levels increase severely and reach measurements of 180/110 or greater, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Unfortunately, there is no quick way to lower blood pressure without medical intervention. The best way to lower blood pressure is with long-term behavioral changes—like reducing stress, getting better sleep, exercising, and eating a low-sodium diet—but this takes time. Certain medications can also help.
Unfortunately, high blood pressure can happen without feeling any abnormal symptoms. Moderate or severe headaches, anxiety, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, palpitations, or feeling of pulsations in the neck are some signs of high blood pressure.
Some people will experience symptoms such as headache, numbness or tingling several days before they have a serious stroke.
The Hypertension Danger Zone
If your systolic is over 180 or your diastolic is above over 120, you may be having a hypertensive crisis, which can lead to a stroke, heart attack, or kidney damage.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of these signs of stroke appear: Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; Trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Trouble walking, dizziness, or problems with balance; severe headache with no known cause.
High levels of stress can lead to a temporary increase in blood pressure. Stress-related habits such as eating more, using tobacco or drinking alcohol can lead to further increases in blood pressure.
High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms, though some people may feel fatigued. Tiredness is more likely to be a side effect of blood pressure-lowering medications, and other health conditions linked to high blood pressure, such as stress or sleep apnea.
As the arteries become narrower and less flexible, the heart has to work harder to move blood through the body. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure and other heart conditions; cause damage to your kidneys, memory and vision; and contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Possible signs of this condition include eye swelling, reduced vision, double vision with headaches and bursting of a blood vessel. People with severe and accelerated hypertension may experience vision problems and headaches.