[3] Most people with a hypertensive crisis are known to have elevated blood pressure, but additional triggers may have led to a sudden rise.

[5] This may include hypertensive encephalopathy, caused by brain swelling and dysfunction, and characterized by headaches and an altered level of consciousness (confusion or drowsiness).

Chest pain may indicate heart muscle damage (which may progress to myocardial infarction) or sometimes aortic dissection, the tearing of the inner wall of the aorta.

[4] In these situations of hypertensive emergency, rapid reduction of the blood pressure is mandated to stop ongoing organ damage.

A rare, neuroendocrine tumor called a pheochromocytoma can cause a hypertensive crisis due to elevated levels of catecholamines.