What is malignant hypertension?

Malignant hypertension is a medical emergency characterized by a sudden and very rapid increase in blood pressure. If it is not treated, the patient may develop coma and may eventually die, and even in treatment patients with malignant hypertension are at risk of organ damage. Treatment of this condition is usually provided in a hospital environment until the patient's blood pressure stabilizes, at this point the patient may be released to initiate outpatient treatment, which usually involves monitoring blood pressure on symptoms of changes that could signal the return on dangerously high blood pressure. In other cases there is no clear cause. People with malignant hypertension experience symptoms such as swelling in the legs and feet, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion and bleeding in the eyes caused by a dangerous increase in blood vessel pressure that are supplied by the eye. Many of them also develop fluid around the heart and lungs. The patient's systolic blood pressure may be above 220, with diastolic over 130, which mayTo reopenerate a very rapid onset of organ damage, especially eyes and kidneys. If high blood pressure persists, the brain may also be injured and permanent damage may occur.

Immediate treatment of malignant hypertension is drugs to reduce the patient's blood pressure to achieve a more safer and more stable level. Once the patient is comfortable, diagnostic tests can be performed to see why the patient's blood pressure increased and treated the basic cause. For example, a more aggressive treatment of kidney disease may be needed to resolve the decrease in kidney function. This may include a medical team that will deal with multiple areas of concern when it comes to patient care.

The patient may also have to undergo ongoing treatment for hypertension. This may include medicines that maintain blood pressure on adequately low levels, along with continued monitoring, especially if the patient has developed organ damage due to an episode of malignant hypertension. Because this condition is often associated with kidney damage, the patient may have to work with a nephrologist who can assess the kidneys and develop a plan of monitoring and treatment with the patient.