High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
When to Call a Doctor
Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
- A sudden, severe headache
- Chest pain (angina)
- Other symptoms of a heart attack
- Symptoms of a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Call a doctor immediately if you have high blood pressure and:
- Your blood pressure is usually normal or well controlled, but it suddenly goes well above the normal range on more than one occasion.
- Your blood pressure is 180/110 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) or higher.
Call a doctor if:
- Your blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or higher on two or more occasions (taken at home or in a community screening program). If one blood pressure measurement is high, have another reading taken by a health professional to verify the first reading. Many doctors' offices or clinics will take blood pressure measurements without an appointment.
- You have significant side effects from any medicine you take for high blood pressure. The side effects may be so bad that you do not want to take your medicine anymore. Talk with your doctor before you stop taking your medicine.
Adults are encouraged to have their blood pressure checked regularly.
Who to See
Your blood pressure can be checked:
- At a clinic where you work or go to school.
- At health fairs, fitness centres, community centres, fire stations, and ambulance stations.
- By a nurse practitioner.
- By a family doctor or general practitioner.
For diagnosis and management of high blood pressure, see:
- Your family doctor or general practitioner.
- An internist.
- A cardiologist (heart specialist). Generally, a cardiologist is needed only in cases of extremely high blood pressure or when the person has other serious heart problems.
- A nephrologist (kidney specialist), in extreme cases.
- A nurse practitioner.
More information
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| Author: | Carrie Henley Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: July 30, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology Ruth Schneider, MPH, RD - Diet and Nutrition | |
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