Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

What condition is indicated by BP at 210/120 in an 85-year-old woman presenting with headache and dizziness?

1. Myocardial infarction

2. Hypertensive crisis

3. Stroke

4. Sepsis

The correct answer is: Hypertensive crisis

A blood pressure reading of 210/120 indicates severely elevated blood pressure levels, commonly associated with a condition known as hypertensive crisis. In this scenario, the patient is presenting with headache and dizziness, which can be symptoms resulting from very high blood pressure. Hypertensive crisis can be categorized into two types: hypertensive urgency, where blood pressure is dangerously high but without signs of acute organ damage, and hypertensive emergency, which may include symptoms indicative of organ damage. In an elderly patient, such as this 85-year-old woman, the risk of complications rises significantly. Headaches at such elevated levels can occur due to increased pressure in the cranial vessels, while dizziness might be a result of insufficient cerebral perfusion. The other conditions listed do not align as closely with the clinical signs and blood pressure readings provided. Myocardial infarction generally presents with chest discomfort rather than isolated headache and dizziness. Stroke could indeed be a consequence of hypertensive crisis, but without cognitive or motor deficits mentioned, it is less plausible as a primary diagnosis in this context. Sepsis usually presents with fever and signs of infection rather than isolated hypertension paired with headache and dizziness. Therefore, hypertensive crisis is the most fitting diagnosis given the symptoms and the extremely high