[Treatment of severe hypertension and hypertensive crises]

The author discusses treatment of severe hypertension and hypertensive crisis in the emergency as well as urgent form. It is in the first place a question of pharmacological treatment but in severe hypertension also non-pharmacological treatment is used to supplement effective control of high blood pressure. The author draws attention to the clinical symptomatology and possible complications of these life threatening conditions. He deals also with the most important groups of antihypertensive drugs and drugs for first aid, the effectiveness of different preparations, their mode of administration and anticipated duration of effect.