A hypertensive crisis can lead to organ damage if blood pressure isn’t reduced immediately. This can include heart failure, a stroke or fluid in the lungs. Watch out for these symptoms – and call 999. If you already know you’ve got high blood pressure – readings over 140/90mmHg – keeping your readings down can be a life-or-death situation. WebMD said extremely high blood pressure alongside the following is a sign of a hypertensive crisis:
- Headache or blurred vision
- Increasing confusion
- Seizure
- Increasing chest pain
- Increasing shortness of breath
- Swelling or edema (fluid buildup in the tissues)
Medical assistance will likely insert intravenous blood pressure medication to prevent further organ damage.
Hypertensive emergencies are rare, and often occur when hypertension goes untreated.
This is why people who are prescribed blood pressure medication need to make sure they’re taking them.
Furthermore, there are everyday things you can do to help reduce blood pressure readings.
If you’d like to avoid hypertensive complications, such as pulmonary edema, it’s important to try and live as healthy as you can.
What’s pulmonary edema?
The Mayo Clinic explained pulmonary oedema is a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs.
As fluid collects in the lung’s air sacs, it becomes more difficult to breathe.
“Pulmonary edema can sometimes cause death,” warned the Mayo Clinic, however quick treatment can greatly improve someone’s outlook.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can enlarged the heart muscle, which can lead to fluid in the lungs.
It’s usually the result of heart failure, which is also caused by extremely high blood pressure.
I want to reduce my blood pressure
Medical News Today explained that alongside prescribed medication, managing your diet can also play a part in lower blood pressure readings.
Eating a plant-based diet, full of fruit and vegetables, will place you in good stead to live longer.
Whole grain varieties, minimising salt intake and eating healthy fats in moderation will help.
To find whole grain products, such as pasta, look out on the packaging for whole grain or wholewheat.
Healthy fats include avocados, nuts, and olive oil – but remember to eat in moderation.
There is conflicting evidence with alcohol and caffeine, but it’s agreed that higher quantities aren’t good for your blood pressure.
Other habits to live by include exercising for at least 30 minutes, five times per week.
The activity needs to get your heart pumping a little bit faster in order to be classified as exercise.
Maintaining a healthy weight is considered best practise when it comes to managing your health.
It’s also wise to not pick up or sustain any habit of smoking, and to mange stress effectively.
Moreover, it’s important to have regular, good quality sleep if you want to lower your blood pressure.
