The theory that "all medicines are three parts poison, and should not be taken if possible" is also very popular among hypertensive patients. As a result, the originally daily required antihypertensive drugs have become intermittent under the guidance of this theory. Consequently, blood pressure fluctuates up and down, or even leads to more dangerous hypertensive emergencies.
Hypertensive emergency refers to a situation where hypertensive patients experience significant elevation in blood pressure accompanied by target organ damage (such as hypertensive encephalopathy, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, pulmonary edema, eclampsia, stroke, fatal arterial bleeding or aortic dissection) during the course of their disease or under certain triggering factors. The clinical manifestations of hypertensive emergency include sudden increase in blood pressure and target organ injury, so the symptoms are complex and varied. Common symptoms include headache, dizziness, irritability, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, shortness of breath, blurred vision, etc. Target organ damage will show corresponding clinical manifestations depending on the affected organs. Hypertensive emergency has a fierce momentum, and if rescue measures are not effective, patients are prone to death. With the progress of medical science, there are now many effective antihypertensive drugs. If patients are found in time and given immediate effective treatment, they can be saved.
First Aid Methods for "Hypertensive Emergency"
Since the patient and his/her family members are usually the first to discover the occurrence of hypertensive emergency in the patient and can provide the most timely treatment, it is crucial for the family and the patient themselves to understand the knowledge of treating hypertensive emergency, which is the primary factor determining the patient's prognosis. When hypertensive patients encounter the following situations, they should do the following:
If the patient suddenly experiences nausea, vomiting, severe headache, palpitations, or even blurred vision, along with a sudden rise in blood pressure, it indicates that hypertensive encephalopathy has occurred. The patient should immediately rest in bed, stabilize their emotions, and avoid tension. Take antihypertensive medication promptly. If the condition does not improve after taking medicine and resting, notify the emergency center for hospital emergency care.
If a hypertensive patient develops not only headaches and vomiting but also numbness, paralysis, or impaired consciousness in the limbs, these symptoms may indicate an acute cerebrovascular disease. The family should immediately notify the emergency center. At the same time, lay the patient flat and turn their head to one side to prevent aspiration of vomit into the airway, which could cause suffocation or aspiration pneumonia.
If a hypertensive patient suddenly experiences palpitations, shortness of breath, cyanosis of the lips, difficulty breathing accompanied by coughing up pink frothy sputum, and inability to lie flat, it may indicate acute left heart failure. Quickly let the patient sit upright with their legs hanging down. If there is an oxygen bag at home, administer oxygen immediately to the patient and notify the emergency center right away.
If a hypertensive patient experiences sudden chest pain, chest tightness, radiating pain to the left shoulder or left arm, pallor, cold sweat after fatigue or mental stimulation, it may indicate acute angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. Let the patient rest quietly, place a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue, inhale oxygen, and call the emergency center immediately.
Prevention of Hypertension and Hypertensive Emergencies
Firstly, lifestyle changes are necessary. Through dietary control for hypertension, moderate alcohol consumption, smoking cessation, and regular physical activity (especially regular aerobic activities such as brisk walking, four days a week, more than 30 minutes each time), systolic blood pressure can decrease by 4-9 mmHg; appropriately restricting salt intake in the diet, 6 grams per day is sufficient, which can lower systolic blood pressure by 2-8 mmHg; eating low-fat and low-saturated fat foods, increasing vegetables and fruits; overweight or obese individuals need to lose weight and maintain normal body weight, which is also beneficial for lowering blood pressure.
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