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Malignant hypertension — also known as a hypertensive crisis — is caused by sudden, extreme spikes in blood pressure that can damage your organs. While you’re more likely to develop malignant hypertension if you have chronically high blood pressure, it can affect anyone. Certain risk factors play into your chances of developing malignant hypertension, including having underlying health conditions and taking certain medications.
Although malignant hypertension is rare, it’s important to understand your risk and to know the symptoms so you can get it treated as quickly as possible. In this article, we’ll discuss seven facts to know about malignant hypertension, including the risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options.
Malignant hypertension is divided into two types — symptomatic and asymptomatic. Malignant hypertension is a hypertensive emergency that causes acute organ damage. This is a medical emergency that needs to be addressed immediately to stop organ damage.
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Severe asymptomatic hypertension, on the other hand, is diagnosed when you have abnormally high blood pressure without signs of organ damage. In the past, this condition was referred to as hypertensive urgency. Severe asymptomatic hypertension can be treated with oral antihypertensives (blood pressure drugs), and you’ll require continued monitoring over time.
You’re at a higher risk of developing malignant hypertension if you have elevated blood pressure, which can be caused by factors such as an unhealthy diet or certain genetics.
Hypertension from these types of nonmedical causes is known as essential hypertension. It’s possible to live with high blood pressure for years before developing malignant hypertension. Malignant hypertension affects only about 1 percent of people with essential hypertension.
Studies also show that up to 60 percent of malignant hypertension cases develop in people without a history of high blood pressure.
Having certain health conditions can increase your risk of developing malignant hypertension, including:
Additionally, your risk can increase if you:
According to a 2024 clinical review in The BMJ, men are more likely to develop malignant hypertension than women. The review also found that men are slightly more at risk and tend to develop it younger. The mean age at diagnosis for men was 55, while the mean age for women was 62 years old.
Your blood pressure is measured using two numbers expressed as a fraction. The top number is your systolic blood pressure, and the bottom is your diastolic blood pressure. A healthy blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
To diagnose malignant hypertension, your doctor will consider your blood pressure, symptoms, and any signs of organ damage. Most people with malignant hypertension have a blood pressure reading over 180/110 mm Hg, but dangerous damage can happen below that number.
The symptoms of malignant hypertension can vary depending on what organs are affected by high blood pressure. You may develop a condition known as hypertensive encephalopathy, which is a collection of symptoms caused by extremely high blood pressure. Symptoms of this condition include:
Cardiovascular Symptoms Cardiovascular symptoms of malignant hypertension may be caused by pulmonary edema, a buildup of fluid in your lungs. This can cause angina (chest pain) or a squeezing or pressing sensation in addition to shortness of breath.
Long-term high blood pressure can also cause dilated cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that causes the lower chambers of the heart to stretch and become larger. This condition weakens your heart, making it harder to pump blood to other parts of your body. In addition to chest pain and shortness of breath, you may have heart palpitations and feel dizzy or fatigued.
Kidney Symptoms If malignant hypertension has damaged your kidneys, your symptoms will look similar to those seen in kidney disease. Your kidneys are responsible for maintaining your body’s fluid balance and excreting waste and water as urine.
In malignant hypertension, your kidneys may make less urine than usual. Instead, your body hangs on to the extra fluid, causing your feet and legs to swell. Kidney dysfunction may also disturb blood electrolyte levels, raising the risk of dangerous arrhythmias.
Eye Symptoms The blood vessels in your eyes are extremely delicate and sensitive to changes in blood pressure. Abnormally high blood pressure levels in malignant hypertension can cause several eye complications, leading to blurry vision.
Papilledema — swelling of the optic nerve, which connects your eyes and brain — is a telltale symptom of malignant hypertension. Papilledema is typically caused by intracranial pressure (increased pressure in your skull). The blood vessels in your retina (the back part of your eye) can also become damaged or narrowed.
Your nervous system and kidneys work together to control your blood pressure levels. This system is typically well regulated to keep your levels within a normal range. However, some diseases and injuries can interfere with this system and cause spikes in blood pressure.
Other conditions that can cause malignant hypertension include:
Your doctor may use several tests to diagnose malignant hypertension, depending on the symptoms you’re experiencing. They’ll start with a physical exam to measure your heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. If they find your blood pressure is abnormally high, they’ll then run tests to look for any organ damage.
Examples of tests your doctor may order include:
If you think you’re having a hypertensive emergency, get to the emergency room as quickly as possible. It’s important to lower your blood pressure immediately to prevent lasting organ damage. You’ll be given intravenous (IV) blood pressure medication, and you’ll likely have to stay in the hospital for a few days until your blood pressure is under control.
IV medications can quickly bring your blood pressure down. It’s important to stay in the hospital after receiving this type of medication to monitor for side effects or complications.
IV medications used to treat malignant hypertension include:
Once your blood pressure is under control with IV medication, you’ll be switched to oral medication to manage your pressure over the long term. Sticking to your treatment plan after you’re released from the hospital can help prevent other health complications in the future.
Since severe asymptomatic hypertension isn’t associated with organ damage, it doesn’t often require an emergency room visit. Instead, it’s mostly treated with oral blood pressure medications that help gradually lower your levels.
The goal of treating severe asymptomatic hypertension is to help you maintain healthy blood pressure levels over the long term. There currently isn’t much available research on which medications are best for treating severe asymptomatic hypertension.
Your doctor will determine which treatment option is best for you based on your overall health and symptoms.
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Have you ever experienced malignant hypertension? What were your first symptoms? Let others know in the comments below.
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Very informative. Learned some things I didn't know.
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