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Notes when treating high blood pressure at home

By Dr. Ganga Sapkota · · Updated

Notes when treating high blood pressure at home
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Good home care for high blood pressure lowers the risk of stroke and other heart and blood vessel complications. But a very high reading with symptoms is an emergency that needs 911, not home treatment.

Here is what to do when blood pressure spikes, and what not to do while you wait for help.

When would it be of high blood pressure emergency?

A sudden rise to 180/120 mmHg or higher is called a hypertensive crisis. That means a top (systolic) number of 180 or more, a bottom (diastolic) number of 120 or more, or both.

According to the NHLBI, if your reading is 180/120 or higher and you have no symptoms, wait 5 minutes and check again. If it is still that high, call your healthcare provider.

Call 911 right away if the reading stays high and you have any of these symptoms:

  • sudden severe headache, difficulty breathing, sudden severe pain in the chest, abdomen or back, numbness or weakness, a sudden change in vision, or trouble talking.

Don't wait to see if it comes down on its own.

These symptoms can mean organ damage is happening. Without fast hospital care, a crisis can cause a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, fluid in the lungs or kidney damage.

How to give first aid to people with high blood pressure on a case-by-case basis

Symptoms are mild, the patient is awake

Some people with long-term high blood pressure get a reading of 180/120 or higher without signs of organ damage. They may feel neck pain, mild lightheadedness or dizziness but stay alert and able to talk.

Don't brush this off. Have the person sit or lie down and rest in a quiet room, recheck the reading after 5 minutes, and call their doctor for instructions.

If they missed a scheduled dose of their blood pressure medicine, ask the doctor or pharmacist whether to take it now. Never give extra doses or someone else's medicine. If any emergency symptom listed above appears, call 911.

Patient is unconscious or has a stroke

Call 911 immediately. Signs of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness on one side, confusion, trouble speaking and loss of consciousness.

While you wait, keep the person still. If they are unconscious but breathing, turn them onto their side so they don't choke if they vomit. Don't shake them or try to move them more than needed.

First aid for high blood pressure at home when the patient has difficulty breathing, chest pain

Chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating and cold hands and feet can signal a heart attack or acute heart failure. Call 911 first.

Then keep the person resting in a calm, quiet place and loosen tight clothing. Follow the dispatcher's instructions.

Open a window or door for fresh air and keep crowds back so the person has space to breathe.

Things not to do when treating high blood pressure at home

  • Don't drive the person to the hospital yourself if they have emergency symptoms. Call 911 so treatment can start on the way.
  • If a person has signs of a stroke, don't give them anything to eat or drink, especially coffee or alcohol.
  • Don't give medicine that wasn't prescribed. Trying to lower blood pressure rapidly at home can cut blood flow to the brain, heart and kidneys and cause damage.
  • Don't use remedies with no scientific basis, such as squeezing lemon into the mouth, pricking with needles or squeezing blood from the fingers and toes. They waste time and can cause harm.

Use this guide to know when to treat high blood pressure at home and when to call 911. A hypertensive emergency is treated in the hospital, often with IV medicines and close monitoring, before the person continues care as an outpatient.

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