Flashcard 20 - Cardiovascular Emergencies Flashcard Set for the CEN

systolic blood pressure greater than 180 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure greater than 120 mm Hg with acute end-organ damage

A hypertensive crisis requires immediate treatment. Signs of end-organ damage include hypertensive encephalopathy, acute pulmonary edema, stroke, acute renal failure, eclampsia, and aortic dissection. The initial goal is to lower the blood pressure by 20 to 25 percent within an hour. By two to six hours, it should be down to 160/100 mm Hg, gradually reaching normal parameters over the next day or two.