Hypertensive urgency is a term used to denote that
hypertension is severe enough to cause symptoms, but not so severe that it affects
intracranial pressure[?]. Someone whose
systolic blood pressure[?] is greater than 240 and/or
diastolic blood pressure[?] is greater than 120 is a candidate. Having these numbers alone and no signs of end-organ damage, is called accelerated hypertension. When end-organ damage is present, but no signs of increased intracranial pressure, it is called hypertensive urgency. Hypertension under this circumstance needs to be controlled, but hospitalization is not required. When hypertension causes increased intracranial pressure, it is called
malignant hypertension. Increased intracranial pressure causes
papilledema, which is visible on ophthalmoscopic examination of the retina.
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