Cardiovascular disorders are the disorders related to the heart and it may cause morbidity or mortality. Such disorders are common in developed countries. Some common cardiovascular disorders include hypertension and congenital heart abnormality. Hypertensive emergencies are medical conditions characterized by severe increase in the blood pressure that is associated with impairment of cardiovascular system, central nervous system, or renal system.
Cardiovascular disorders may or may not always show up prominent signs and may affect several important blood vessels and veins in the body.
Classification of Cardiovascular Disorders
Hypertensive emergencies occur in patients, who suffered hypertension earlier. There are three different classification of hypertension as follows:
Essential Hypertension
Essential hypertension is characterized by persistent increase in blood pressure. Such elevation of blood pressure is measured on two different occasions to observe the difference and the degree of elevation. Accordingly the evaluation and treatment of essential hypertension is decided.
Hypertensive Urgency
Hypertensive urgency is a medical condition described by elevation of blood pressure; however, without any any sign of organ damage. Such a condition should be treated by declining the patient's blood pressure over 24 to 48 hours period of time.
Hypertensive Emergencies
Hypertensive emergencies are when a person complains of elevated blood pressure and also show up signs and symptoms related to damage to organ system. Immediate medical assistance is necessary for such condition and efforts to reduce the blood pressure should be made within a few minutes to hours.
Symptoms of Hypertension and Hypertensive Emergencies
Chest Pain
This is a very common symptom of hypertension and it may be an alarming symptoms for any life-threatening disorder. Chest pain should never be dismissed or ignored until the underlying cause is not identified.
Dyspnea
A sudden elevation in blood pressure and impairment of any organ system can cause dyspnea or breathlessness.
Renal failure
A person, who has a persistent and uncontrolled hypertension may develop renal failure. Renal function may damage due to acute increase in blood pressure and also cause an injury to the intra-renal vascular system.
Headache
Hypertension may present acute or moderate headache. This is a result of the elevation in blood pressure and the condition goes off without any medical intervention.
Treatment for Hypertension and Hypertensive Emergencies
Immediate measures are required to control the blood pressure. To control the hypertensive emergencies, administration of pharmacological anti-hypertensive agents are administered in the patient's body. It just takes a few minutes to lower the elevated blood pressure with these medicines.
However, there are several classes of anti-hypertensive agents and the choice depends on the blood pressure, cause of hypertensive emergency, and patient's usual blood pressure before the emergency arose.
Hypertension and hypertensive emergencies are a form of cardiovascular disorder and can prove to be a life-threatening condition. It is characterized by sudden and acute elevation of blood pressure, with no or few signs of organ system damage. As an immediate measure, immediate blood pressure control is vital to avoid further damage to the organ system.
