7^th Brazilian Guideline of Arterial Hypertension: Chapter 14 – Hypertensive Crisis

Definition

The terms HU and HE were proposed as an operational classification of HC in 1993 by the V Joint National Committee on Detection Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. The HUs are symptomatic clinical situations in which there is significant BP elevation (arbitrarily defined as DBP ≥ 120 mm Hg) without acute and progressive TOD.^, The HEs are symptomatic clinical situations in which there is significant BP elevation (arbitrarily defined as DBP ≥ 120 mm Hg) with acute and progressive TOD.^,

Patients complaining from headache, atypical chest pain, dyspnea, acute psychological stress, and panic syndrome associated with high BP levels characterize neither HU nor HE, but rather a pseudo hypertensive crisis. Treatment comprises the optimization of antihypertensive drugs and raising awareness about treatment adherence.

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