Is High Blood Pressure an Emergency?

Call your doctor:
Either number is 180/110 or higher AND you feel normal

Go to the hospital right away if you have any of these symptoms:

• Feel confused, such as:
  • Trouble understanding what is happening around you
  • Have a harder time than usual making simple choices
• Have trouble moving:
  • It’s harder to walk than usual
  • It’s harder to use your hands or arms than usual
• Lose feeling in part of your body
• Have trouble talking or breathing
• Have new chest or back pain
• Your pee (urine) is brown or red
• Your vision changes quickly

High blood pressure makes a stroke more likely over time. That’s why it’s important to keep blood pressure low over time. A stroke can happen even when blood pressure isn’t very high right now.

There is no blood pressure that will cause a stroke. So, you should focus on how you feel.

Remember F-A-S-T: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911. Also watch for sudden feeling imbalanced or vision loss. These need immediate emergency care.

It’s a good idea to still talk to your doctor. Together you can figure out if there’s a pattern. You should keep checking your blood pressure 1-2 times a day. Write down your readings and how you feel.

Only if you have concerning symptoms (see the first question’s answer for a list). If you feel normal, you should call your doctor.

You don’t need to call 911 just for high blood pressure. You should call if you have concerning symptoms and need immediate help. 

Damage usually happens over months to years. But how much damage and how long that takes depends on your body. Some people are more susceptible to high blood pressure and are more likely to have problems.