I had a blood pressure reading of 224/144 today at the hospital - what danger am I in if I do nothing about it

Question

I went to hospital after a big impact to the head. They advised that I MUST go to my GP to follow up my blood pressure. The two readings were 224/144 and 214/163 taken ten minutes apart. I am 25 years old and had a blood pressure of 180/140 in my first year at uni 7 years ago. It is possible therefore that I have been hypertensive all this time. I often have headaches (6-7 times per week) too. Am I putting my health in excessive danger now or can I leave it for a few more years yet - what would the consequences be of doing nothing?

I went to hospital after a big impact to the head. They advised that I MUST go to my GP to follow up my blood pressure. The two readings were 224/144 and 214/163 taken ten minutes apart. I am 25 years old and had a blood pressure of 180/140 in my first year at uni 7 years ago. It is possible therefore that I have been hypertensive all this time. I often have headaches (6-7 times per week) too. Am I putting my health in excessive danger now or can I leave it for a few more years yet - what would the consequences be of doing nothing?

I had my blood pressure taken by an Emergency Nurse Practioner (Triage) - The doctor I saw about my head did not mention my blood pressure so I did not think to ask her - I guessed if it was important she would have checked it herself or offered me advice.

Answer 1

Well....first, I am sure you are chronic hypertensive, despite your young age....but that is no guarantee you cannot suffer from any kind of hyoertension.
Those previous headaches were surely produced by "bursts" of high blood pressure, and if the doctor you consulted told you nothing, nor offered to you, to keep track of your hypertensive potentially fatal hypertension, in order to help you, despite you asked such help to her....we have in our hands a clear-cul case of medical negligence....

Hypertension requires effective and prompt treatment, depending on your stature, racial background weight etc....

The figures you cite in your question, are compatible with severe chronic hypertension, and with hypertensive crisis....(that were there, when you felt extremely tired, or had headaches)..

You can be treated with diuretics, beta blockers or "prils" such as captopril 25 mg TDS, and or mild sedatives, (diazepam 5 mgs TDS) as well as stopping the ingestion of table salt....

What happens if you do nothing???...many of the previous responders already gave you, a serious clue...
You can die. and I am not being over dramatic here.
Why?...arteries may rupture anywhere in your body, such as brain, retina, heart etc....giving to you, an hemorrhage of umpredictable comsequences.....

You need medication STAT by your GP...if he or she does NOT pay attention, go with another, and contact the Board that regulates the doctors in your State (Licensing office of yourState) and file a complain......That works all the time, because you have the reason on your side.....

Dont take issues lightly, hypertension is called the "silent killer", because it can kill you without even symptoms prior to that....
Go with your doctor as soon as you can......(it is a serious matter)

Answer 2

Stevron,

Consequences of doing nothing: feel like playing Russian roulette with your health?

'Normal' blood pressure is much lower. A pressure well in the 200s like you were told, is often a symptom of an underlying problem and you should MAKE HASTE, to find out what it is.

Get the to the doc and have it treated, before you have more than a headache. If you only have headaches from high blood pressure; you're lucky.

UNTREATED, high blood pressure can cause stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease: basically, TOTAL body disease.

There can be many causes; but right now, the cause seems a bit irrelevant. Get it treated, THEN get to the root of the cause.

Answer 3

I really can not imagine that they did not admit you for observation. They must have thought the impact to your head elevated your blood pressure. Just seems a bit odd they would send someone home. Did they do any lab work or an ekg? You should contact a cardiologist some people your age do require some type of medication to regulate your blood pressure. You should also have you cholestrol levels checked....Good luck. Oh you maybe won't have a few years if you have hypertension and do nothing it can cause many things to happen heart attack, enlarged heart etc

Answer 4

3 years ago, I was diagnosed - hypertension with a reading of 160/100. I used to feel dizzy a lot, my legs had awful cramps, and levels were very low in my potassium, causing my fingers and toes to always cramp together. One day I started to feel really faint while I was driving with my daughter in the back seat and I passed out, hitting 3 cars and ending up in a ditch. That moment,I knew I had to do something because my meds weren't working. I heard about this diet from a friend and thought I'd give it a shot. The results have been remarkable. In just 21 days, I honestly can't remember feeling this good, my blood pressure went from 175/110 to 125/70.

Answer 5

They shouldn't have released you. They are letting themselves in for a huge malpractice case if you collapse. That was very poor medical care on the part of the hospital.

You do need to have the reason for the hypertension diagnosed and be treated for it. It is really important because you are really important. It could actually be due to a kidney defect or pulmonary hypertension or anything else. Long term it could cause a stroke, heart valve problems, heart failure, etc. You need some care. You don't want to end up a 35yo vegetable strapped to a wheel chair while you drool from an early stroke.

Answer 6

Didn't the doctor tell you 7 years ago that 180/140 is way too high? Normal is like 120/70 so they should of told you back then that it was time to do something.
You must go to your doc now and get this taken care of. You need to change your diet and get some meds.
Good luck.

Answer 7

To have a blood pressure seven years ago of 180/140 is a strong indication of high blood pressure. Check whether your mother or father suffer from high blood pressure - it may run in your family. Your headaches are related to this also. You MUST go to your G.P. asap, you are a high candidate for a stroke. Most people think only elderly people get strokes, this is not true they can happen at any age. Plus, if you smoke or excessively drink, or are overweight you are increasing your chances of a stroke. Even if you do none of these things, please do not ignore these readings - GO TO YOUR G.P. NOW!!

Answer 8

come on?your at uni so you have some intelligence?your only 25 you have your whole life in front of you you know they must keep an eye on you until you are stable if you do nothing you know the consequences,and you don't want to be lifted and laid for the next 30 years,tubes in your bladder,and getting your backside wiped when you've messed up being hand fed,and you cant speak will I go on no I think not,so yes you will attend when they want you back and if its medication for the rest of your life is not a problem uni will always be there you might not so give your self a shake and do as your told ,you will be fine if you listen to the professionals go for life? take care,

Answer 9

OMG well it's no wonder you have headaches! Are you kidding? I don't want to panic you but you are lucky you haven't dropped dead from a heart attack or stroke with BP that high.

Yes, that is dangerously high...whoever took your reading 7 years ago should have advised you of that THEN.

A normal BP is 120/70.

You are doing terrible damage to your cardiovascular system with a BP that high..that means you are damaging your veins/arteries and overstressing your heart and lungs.

Let me revise that...you HAVE done terrible damage if you've gone 7 years with uncontrolled BP.

I'm surprised you can function at all.

You need to go on meds immediately to lower your BP so do not wait.

Good luck.

AND WTF? kind of hospital releases someone with a BP that high instead of treating you? What is a hospital for if not that!!! Wow....

Answer 10

Good Grief. You're lucky you haven't already had a stroke or a heart attack. Why do you think the medical profession advertises that high blood pressure is the silent killer? You had better heed the hospital's advice. I can't believe they even let you out with that blood pressure. What caused your head injury? Did you black out? Get to your doctor and do it NOW!