6 Risk Factors for a Hypertensive Emergency (Dangerously High Blood Pressure)

High blood pressure can increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Treatment is important and can be very helpful, but it’s usually not an emergency.

But if you have dangerously high blood pressure, it requires immediate medical care. This is known as a hypertensive emergency. Learn the risk factors for a hypertensive emergency in this video.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Sanjai Sinha, MD

Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts