How high should you let your blood pressure get before going to the Emergency Room?

I am out of the bp meds that I am suppose to take if the top number gets over 160 and I can't see a dr again until the end of July (free clinic, no insurance) My bp is 197/123 and I have had a headache for 2 days. I just need some information as to what is considered "stroke level" and if this is considered an ER situation. I really can't pay for another big hospital bill, but I also am worried. My bp has been steadily increasing since I ran out of that one medicine, but I still am taking to others that don't seem to be helping. Is this high enough to justify going to the ER again or should I wait?

Mine often sits at 201 over 140 and I'm okay xxx

Dufo - it's not ME who says I'm okay. I get my BP checked at the doctors surgery and its that high. The doctor takes it 3 times and says its okay !!!!

Both starlet and Dufu are incorrect.

A "hypertensive crisis" is a sharp blood pressure increase that starts at 180/110 and anything above that.

The ideal blood pressure is between 100/60 and 130/80. To get a formal diagnosis of hypertension, one needs to have a blood pressure above 130/80 on three separate measurements over a period of at least 3 months.

The number to be most concerned about is the top number, also known as a systolic blood pressure. This number measures the amount of pressure the heart has to pump against to get blood to your body. This is the number that is most to blame in things like stroke or heart attack.

I think you should go to the doctor. I went to the ER when I wasn't feeling well and my bp was at 173/111. They put me on medicine for it. I had my daughter via emergency c-section in January of this year because my blood pressure was at 187/117 and they thought I was going to have a stroke. Please get it checked out sooner than later.

was the result a fluke?? if you are symptomatic -headache, dizziness, chest pain, altered level of conciousness, nosebleed, etc -call 911. otherwise, track your bp for 2 weeks and follow up with your doctor.

Why not see your doctor and get blood pressure medications before it gets high enough to require going to the emergency room? If you wait until it is an emergency, it may be too late.

Ive taken my husband twice and was kept for BP. His systems were dizzness , not responding correctly to questions, ear ringing, unable to stand up without dizzness. ITS nothing to fool around with. *mamatx

I wouldnt horse around if I were you. Even if you get a high bill, isnt your life worth it? Your pressure is high. Ide go to the hospital if I were you, especially if I had a headache! Too risky.

that depends on what this question is for if you are sick then go to the hospital you can feel it; but if you are trying to get sick without dieing not your smartest idea

Don't listen to starlet 1. She's putting herself in danger of a stroke with a BP like that. I would not let mine go above 200 onthe top number and 110 on the bottom.

If you really think that your bp is so high that it merits a trip to the emergency room, then get off the computer and go!

around 190. 160 is bad but around the 200's is very bad soo b carefull.

Lose weight... diet.