Final answer:
The main goals of treating a hypertensive emergency are to rapidly lower blood pressure to prevent organ damage and to improve cardiovascular health through medications and lifestyle changes. A stepped care approach to medication ensures effective blood pressure control and reduced risk of complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Goals of Treatment for Hypertensive Emergency
The primary goals of treatment for patients with a hypertensive emergency are to quickly lower blood pressure to prevent or limit organ damage and to improve the patient's overall cardiovascular health. In a hypertensive crisis, medications such as antihypertensive medications (thiazide-diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs) may be administered intravenously to rapidly reduce the blood pressure to a safer level. It is essential to use these medications carefully and monitor the patient closely, as a too rapid decrease in blood pressure can lead to inadequate blood flow to the organs.
Alongside pharmacological intervention, lifestyle changes are recommended to manage hypertension more effectively. These changes include reducing salt intake, adopting a healthier diet, getting regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco smoke. For some patients, these lifestyle changes, along with medication, may manage hypertension effectively and reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.
Implementing a stepped care approach to the use of medications can help reach target blood pressure levels when they are not achieved with initial treatment. These steps ensure that treatment is escalated or adjusted as needed to effectively control blood pressure and reduce the risk of complications.