A hypertensive crisis is a severe increase in blood pressure that can lead to organ damage and potentially life-threatening complications. It is typically defined as a systolic blood pressure reading above 180 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure reading above 120 mmHg. Hypertensive crises can be categorized into two types: hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency. In hypertensive urgency, there is a rapid increase in blood pressure without evidence of organ damage. In hypertensive emergency, there is a severe increase in blood pressure accompanied by organ damage, such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, or swelling and bleeding in the brain. Immediate medical attention is required to manage a hypertensive crisis and prevent further complications.
