Severe blood pressure: emergencies and underlying causes
Doctor explanation
Dr. Fowad discusses severe blood-pressure episodes and why some people need assessment for an underlying cause.
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This is an archived recording. Original clinic references are retained; use this website’s current contact details for appointments. Current appointment details ↗
Emergency symptoms need immediate care
Very high blood pressure with chest pain, breathlessness, new weakness, or changes in speech or vision needs emergency medical care. Do not wait for a routine clinic appointment or for the pressure to settle on its own. Severe readings without these symptoms also need prompt clinical advice.
Young age or a severe episode does not by itself diagnose secondary hypertension. A clinician decides whether kidney, hormone or other investigations are needed from the history, examination and initial findings; the tests mentioned are not a checklist for every viewer.
The recording includes one reported treatment experience. It is not an independently verified outcome or a promise of the same result for others. Do not change prescribed medicines on the basis of this recording.
This video provides general information and does not replace an individual medical assessment.
Further reading: American Heart Association: severe blood pressure and emergencies · NICE: hypertension assessment and specialist investigations.