Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the hypertensive crisis.

High blood pressure is a problem with elevated prevalence in the world population. The acute forms of presentation are "hypertensive crises," which represent a frequent cause for emergency room and primary care consultations. Hypertensive crises are divided into hypertensive emergencies and hypertensive urgencies, depending on whether or not there is acute damage to the target organ, respectively. Each situation has a different prognosis and treatment. More specifically, hypertensive emergencies are potentially serious and usually require rapid reductions in blood pressure, whereas hypertensive urgencies can be treated as outpatients by reducing blood pressure in hours or days. A significant number of patients who consult medical professionals regarding a hypertensive crisis do not have a prior diagnosis of hypertension; therefore, it is important to periodically monitor blood pressure levels in the community.