|  | Conditions Treatments | Heart Disease

Malignant Hypertension Diagnosis

Malignant hypertension is a condition in which blood pressure climbs suddenly and to extremely high levels. Normal blood pressure reading is 120/80. A person with malignant hypertension would have a reading of over 130 for the lower or diastolic number.

  1. Considerations

    • Only about 1 percent of the population is affected by malignant hypertension, according to the National Institute of Health. The condition is common among young adults and those with kidney disorders and women who experience toxemia of pregnancy.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of malignant hypertension include blurry vision, numbness in the face, arms and legs, chest pain that feels like a crushing sensation, headache, cough, breathlessness and nausea. Other symptoms may include fatigue, sleepiness, confusion, anxiety and restlessness.

    Diagnosis

    • Malignant hypertension is a serious medical condition and will need emergency attention. Your doctor will take your blood pressure reading, listen to your heart for any abnormal heart beats, listen for fluid in the lungs and check for leg or feet swelling. An eye exam will reveal any damage to the optic nerve or retinal bleeding caused by a spike in blood pressure.

      Kidney failure can develop from malignant hypertension, so an urinalysis will be taken to test for high levels of creatinine present when kidneys are damaged.

      A chest X-ray may reveal an enlarged heart or congested lungs.

    Warnings

    • Malignant hypertension can cause serious damage to organs. Kidneys are especially vulnerable to a high spike in blood pressure, and any damage caused is not reversible. Dialysis may be needed if the kidneys can no longer function properly. Optic nerves may also undergo irreversible damage, and blindness may occur. Brain damage may cause seizures, stroke, brain swelling or coma.

    Treatment

    • Admission to the hospital will be necessary in order to get blood pressure down to normal. Medications will be given intravenously to lower blood pressure. Congestion in the lungs will be treated with diuretics to rid the body of excess fluids. After the hospital stay, oral medications will be prescribed to keep blood pressure under control. Malignant hypertension can be controlled with no damage to organs if caught early. Keep track of your blood pressure and eat a diet low in fats and sodium.

Heart Disease - Related Articles