Severe Hypertension in the Geriatric Patient—Is it an Emergency or Not?

Hypertension is a medical condition commonly seen in the outpatient setting. Primary care providers should be aware that asymptomatic hypertension, despite the degree of elevation, is rarely an emergency. Based on consensus guidelines from the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure and the lack of any evidence showing harm, extreme blood pressure elevations do not need acute treatment. This article provides evidence for the argument that hypertension is rarely an emergency at all; even patients who have exceedingly high blood pressure can be treated as outpatients.