High blood pressure: Parethesia is a symptom of a hypertensive crisis – what is that?

Phillip Schofield gets blood pressure checked in Istanbul in 1991

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

High blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease by forcing your heart to work harder to pump blood around the body. To stave off the threat of serious health complications, it is therefore vital to reverse a high blood pressure reading. A hypertensive crisis is a severe increase in blood pressure that can lead to a stroke. Paresthesia is an early warning of a hypertensive crisis.

A study published in the journal Nature ranked different hypertensive crisis symptoms according to their prevalence.

The study sought to characterise the profile of hypertensive crisis over the course of one year in a university reference hospital and perform a review of the literature.

The study monitored 362 patients who presented for treatment at the emergency hospital with hypertensive crisis.

One of the most common symptoms found in the study group was paresthesia.

Paresthesia refers to a burning or prickling sensation that is usually felt in the hands, arms, legs, or feet, but can also occur in other parts of the body.

The sensation, which happens without warning, is usually painless and described as tingling or numbness, skin crawling, or itching.

Chronic paresthesia may cause a stabbing pain.

That may lead to clumsiness of the affected limb.

When paresthesia occurs in your legs and feet, it can make it difficult to walk.

Extremely high blood pressure is when the top number (systolic pressure) is 180 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or higher or a bottom number (diastolic pressure) of 120 mm Hg or higher leading to damaged blood vessels.

The blood vessels become inflamed and may leak fluid or blood. As a result, the heart may not be able to pump blood effectively.

A hypertensive crisis is divided into two categories: urgent and emergency.

In an urgent hypertensive crisis, your blood pressure is extremely high, but your doctor doesn’t suspect you have any damage to your organs.

In an emergency hypertensive crisis, your blood pressure is extremely high and has caused damage to your organs.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of your paresthesia.

It may be possible to treat your condition by eliminating the cause in some cases.

In addition to short-term treatments, modifying your lifestyle can keep a hypertensive crisis at bay.

One of the most important protective measures is to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Source: Read Full Article