What is Malignant Hypertension and How is It Treated?
You may have heard of hypertension, or high blood pressure, and you may be somewhat familiar with the risk factors involved with this condition and the treatments that are often prescribed. But are you familiar with malignant hypertension? Unless you or someone you know is diagnosed with this potentially dangerous condition, you may have never heard the term. Malignant hypertension is a relatively rare condition that occurs in only 1% of people with high blood pressure. It is also known by names like accelerated hypertension and arteriolar nephrosclerosis.
In the case of malignant hypertension, the blood pressure shoots up very high and is accompanied by a swelling of the optic nerve behind the eye known as the papilledema. If it is not treated right away, the risks of malignant hypertension can include brain damage, kidney failure and even death. That is why it is important to recognize the symptoms of this condition, particularly if you already have hypertension, so that you can seek necessary medical treatment immediately.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms of malignant hypertension that include blurred vision, numbness of the face or extremities, chest pain, decreased urinary output, and a headache. You might also experience a change to your mental state that might be characterized as confusion, restlessness, fatigue or anxiety. Other symptoms may be nausea, weakness, shortness of breath or seizures. If you experience any of these symptoms, especially if you have already been diagnosed with hypertension, you should call 9-1-1 or get to a hospital emergency room immediately.
Treatment
Treatment of malignant hypertension will generally involve a hospital stay until the high blood pressure can be brought under control. This is often done through IV medication at first, and then switched over to an oral medication as the imminent danger passes. When malignant hypertension is treated promptly using these procedures, there is rarely any long term damage to organs that will result. However, malignant hypertension that is left untreated may cause damage to the eyes, brain, kidneys, heart and blood vessels. This is why prompt response and treatment is so imperative to a malignant hypertension patient.
If you have high blood pressure, it is important to stick with the treatment that is prescribed by your doctor to ensure that malignant hypertension does not ever occur. Your doctor will probably have you on medication that will keep your blood pressure under control. It is important to take that medication as directed and for the rest of your life to manage your condition. There is no cure for high blood pressure, but proper medication and lifestyle changes can keep the numbers at a healthy reading so that you don't have to worry about complications like malignant hypertension.
