Sudden high blood pressure: What can cause a sudden spike in blood pressure?

 Chronic high blood pressure is considered a worrying condition because high blood pressure tends to persist for a long time and stabilizes with regular use of medications, while acute high blood pressure is called sudden high blood pressure because high blood pressure comes suddenly and does not last for a long time, and a sudden rise may be a symptom of an emergency. Requires immediate medical attention. The following lines describe the most important symptoms of sudden high blood pressure, its causes, and the possibility of treating it at home.



Sudden high blood pressure


What causes sudden high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is mostly a chronic condition, but some people may experience a sudden and severe rise in blood pressure, which is concerning because it may lead to serious complications if it occurs repeatedly:

 

1- Consuming foods that contain tyramine

  Tyramine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body and is also found in some foods. Excessive consumption of tyramine, found in aged cheeses, smoked meats, and cured meats, can cause a sudden rise in blood pressure, especially if you take antidepressants that contain amino acid oxidation inhibitors.

2- Smoking

  Smoking one cigarette immediately increases blood pressure by 5-10 mmHg. Although this effect is temporary, the effects of tobacco use can have long-term harmful effects on the walls of the arteries, which may have long-term negative effects on heart health.

3- Consume caffeine

  Caffeine intake can cause a temporary but severe rise in blood pressure, even in people who do not generally have high blood pressure. This is because caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it causes blood vessels to narrow, which increases blood pressure, the researchers point out.

Side effects of some medications: Some cold medications, including NSAIDs and decongestants, can increase blood pressure, so it is important not to take them without consulting your doctor.

4- Hyperactivity of the adrenal gland

  When the adrenal glands are overactive, certain hormones are secreted in excess, leading to increased blood pressure.

Certain medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as collagen vascular disorders, scleroderma, and thyroid problems, can cause a rapid rise in blood pressure.

Sudden high blood pressure


 

5- Panic attacks

Panic attacks are accompanied by common symptoms such as high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and sweating, but blood pressure usually returns to normal after the cause of the attack is resolved.

6- Sudden acute pain

  Not only do routine injuries such as a stubbed toe, cut, or knife wound cause pain, but sudden sharp pains can cause blood pressure to rise. Blood pressure usually drops again when the pain subsides and the shock resolves.

Learn about the complications of high blood pressure with Dr. Haitham Al-Shahat, Consultant in Cardiovascular Diseases at Hospital de Andalusia.

7- Stress

Stress is a common cause of temporary high blood pressure and can lead to persistent or chronic high blood pressure if stress becomes a long-term problem.

8- Chronic kidney disease

  Chronic kidney disease, such as kidney failure, can lead to high blood pressure, as the kidneys play an important role in regulating blood pressure.

 

What are the symptoms of sudden high blood pressure?

In most cases, moderate high blood pressure has no symptoms, but sudden severe high blood pressure may be accompanied by symptoms of high blood pressure, including:

 

  • Severe headache.
  • Nose bleeding.
  • Fatigue or confusion.
  • Arrhythmia.
  • Dizziness.
  • Nervousness.
  • Sweating.
  • blushing.
  • Hematuria.

Nausea and vomiting are also signs of high blood pressure.

Get immediate medical attention if any of the following symptoms occur, which may indicate a heart attack, stroke, or other serious condition:

 

Sudden high blood pressure


Poor eyesight (blurred vision).

pain in the chest.

shortness of breath.

Weakness or numbness in the limbs or face (this may be a sign of a stroke).

Difficulty speaking.

Can sudden high blood pressure be treated at home?

If blood pressure rises suddenly and quickly, do not wait and take the person to the hospital, or at least call the doctor to find out the appropriate action. In general, if blood pressure rises in the absence of other symptoms, the following measures can be taken

 

Measure blood pressure, wait for five minutes, monitor the condition during this time, and measure blood pressure again. Ask the patient or notice the symptoms (symptoms of high blood pressure), such as breathing, sweating, difficulty speaking, etc.

Contact your doctor as life-saving medications such as nitroglycerin or anticoagulants may be recommended before transfer to prevent complications.

If blood pressure drops again after the first measurement, subsequent measurements should be taken to ensure that it is temporary and will not rise again. If it drops and then rises again, a doctor should be consulted.

If you want to protect yourself from high blood pressure, read this article.

In conclusion, sudden high blood pressure for non-pathological reasons such as stress, pain, tension, or excessive caffeine intake is not a worrying matter, but if it rises without a clear reason and is accompanied by symptoms such as those described in the article, a doctor must be consulted immediately because it may be a sign of a condition. If it is serious or life-threatening, consult a doctor immediately.

Comments



    Font Size
    +
    16
    -
    lines height
    +
    2
    -