When you cut your hand – or breaks a leg – the emergencies inevitably impose itself. But in case of hypertension, what signs require immediate medical care? We asked Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical, and here is his answer.
High blood pressure: how to identify it?
High blood pressure (HTA) corresponds to an abnormal increase in blood pressure on the wall of the arteries. In the vast majority of cases, it is difficult to find a precise cause for this disease. However, to speak of hypertension, you must present according to health insurance:
- An elevation of the systolic blood pressure at 14 cmHg (140 mmHg) or more;
- Or an elevation of the diastolic blood pressure at 9 cmhg (90 mmHg) or more;
- That these measures be noted several times, during 3 successive consultations over a period of 3 to 6 months (in the event of very important HTA, the treatment is put in place within a shorter period).
Important point: if high blood pressure is a silent disease – it generally occurs without causing symptoms – it can also be fatal.
“L’Hypertensive emergency is a particularly serious form of high blood pressure. Systolic pressure is at least 180 mmHg and/or diastolic pressure is at least 120 mmHg, and a progressive lesion of one or more vital organs is apparent (generally the brain, the heart and the kidneys), often accompanied by various symptoms. Untreated, a hypertensive emergency can be fatal “, warns the MSD manual.
Clearly, from a systolic blood pressure of 180 mmHg or more, and/or a diastolic of 120 mmHg or more, it is necessary to worry.
Hypertension: when to go to the emergency room?
According to Dr. Gérald Kierzek, it is necessary to go to the emergency room or to call 15 in case “Hypertensive emergency“, if one of these symptoms appears:
- Intense and sudden headaches;
- Visual disturbances (blurred vision, light points);
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Shortness of breath or chest pain;
- Confusion, difficulty in speaking or weakness on one side of the body (sign of stroke);
- Convulsions or loss of consciousness.
“If your tension exceeds 180 of msystolic and/or 120 mmHg of diastolic (measured several times) with one of these symptoms, consult without delay. On the other hand, if it is raised without symptoms, contact your doctor to adjust the treatment, because emergencies are not always necessary “, Indicates the medical director of True Medical.
However, in case of doubt, the doctor recommends “to call 15 or 112 for medical advice. ” “It is therefore not so much the figures that characterize the emergency, but rather the symptoms that accompany them!”, specifies the medical expert.
A concrete example:
- HTA: 200/125 mmhg without symptoms: in this context, contact your doctor quickly;
- HTA: 190/110 mmHg with violent headache and visual disturbances: call the 15 immediately or appointment in the emergency room.
“The presence of serious symptoms changes a simple hypertensive crisis in vital hypertensive emergency”, concludes Dr Gérald Kierzek.