Final answer:
Pulmonary edema refers to excess fluid in the lung's air sacs, typically resulting from heart or kidney failure, leading to life-threatening breathing difficulties. A hypertensive crisis involves dangerously high blood pressure that may cause acute organ damage, while chronic high blood pressure, known as hypertension, can lead to severe health problems if left untreated.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pulmonary edema is characterized by the presence of excess fluid in the air sacs of the lungs and is often a symptom of heart failure or kidney failure. This condition can dramatically affect gas exchange in the lungs, leading to difficulty breathing and chest pain. Pulmonary edema can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical care. When the left ventricle of the heart is compromised and unable to pump blood effectively, blood becomes backed up in the pulmonary capillaries, resulting in increased hydrostatic pressure that pushes fluid out of the capillaries and into lung tissues.
A hypertensive crisis can occur when blood pressure rises rapidly and severely, with measurements reaching 180/120 mm Hg or higher. This can lead to acute organ damage and requires urgent medical intervention. Common signs include severe headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and confusion.
Chronic elevation of blood pressure is known as hypertension, which often goes unnoticed due to its silent nature. Untreated hypertension can result in serious health consequences such as heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease, chronic kidney disease, or heart failure.