Hypertensive crisis

[Gillimam]

I have had hypertension for 15 years, mostly controlled with Candestartan 16mgs. Over the last few months I have had a few episodes of my blood pressure spiking to over 200; worst being 250/120. I become flushed with bad palpitations at these times, but no obvious trigger or stress.

The first time, on doctors advice, I went to A&E, but was left in the waiting room for 8 hours until eventually seen and given Amlodipine 5mgs and sent home! Everything I read tells me these spikes require urgent treatment as BP that high can be life threatening, but the doctors I have seen don't seem that bothered!

Are occasional spikes for a few hours acceptable? Or is it only dangerous if that high level is sustained for a longer time?

[happyrosie1]

I think this is one for doctors! The specialist charity Blood Pressure UK is worth reading and they have a helpline.

[Goonerboy6661]

Below is what my AI suggests, I would insist on seeing a cardiologist or if you can afford around £200 then book a private cardiologist. This is what I done last April after being sent home from A&E twice within 3 days with severe chest pains. The private cardiologist admitted me straight to hospital. 3 days later had a stent due to 99% blockage. Six weeks later I received an appointment from the NHS for phone consultation with a cardiac nurse regarding the chest pains I had in A&E. If I had waited for the NHS I doubt I would be writing this!

AI Output Below

Occasional spikes to extremely high levels are not normal or safe. They suggest either inadequate medication control or an underlying condition that needs to be addressed. The individual should push for further evaluation, and if their current doctors are not addressing the concern thoroughly, they may need to seek a second opinion, ideally from a cardiologist or hypertension specialist.

[pete109]

I get much the same although my BP under stress, GP surgery, hospital etc. gets to 220 / 100 or so, the first time it happened for no reason at all in the middle of the night, I rang 999, ambulance to A & E sat on a bed for 8 hours or so being monitored, given 5mg ramipril, then went home, been in all the scanners the hospital has, had 4 stents due to test results but not related to the spikes, I’ve never had any related symptoms, none of the medics, GPs or Cardiologist seem all that concerned as it heads back to normal when I get home, from what I’ve found online (mainly teaching hospital pages) athletes BP can reach that sort of level and as long as it returns to normal in a fairly short period there’s no problem, I’d like to find out why it happens but I don’t worry too much about it anymore, it does however make you very jittery when it happens, like your body’s doing a marathon while your brain isn’t, I take my BP at home before I go to the surgery and hand it to the doctor because I never see the same one at my surgery, anyway that’s been my experience, I get most of the problems from allergic reactions to the meds themselves, not from the problem they’re meant to be solving to be honest.

[Simba37]

I’m not sure about that sorry. Mine was 180/90 a few months ago and I was given 5mg amlodopine. Keep taking it as it should bring your blood pressure down. Mine is now around 140/85.