Hypertensive crisis--an overview
Kumar, A.; Banerjee, M.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association 95(9): 511
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5847 PMID: 9529586 Document Number: 6930
Hypertension is a major risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease. Blood pressure has a continuous distribution in the population and there is no natural dividing line separating normotensives from hypertensives. Blood pressure rises with age, with cold environment or anxiety, with effort and varies with the time of the day (lowest at 4 AM rising rapidly by 9 AM). With mild hypertension the blood pressure is measured twice. This is not necessary with severe hypertension. There are a large variety of conditions which would lead to life threatening hypertension at any age eg, congenital renal artery stenosis in neonates, acute glomerulonephritis in children, eclampsia in young women and renovascular hypertension in older patients. Hypertensive crises are conditions .requiring rapid treatment of hypertension. These conditions can he categorised as hypertensive urgencies and hypertensive emergencies. There are also some other specific conditions of hypertensive crises.
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