Hypertension + Dizziness + Nausea?

[sunkissed]

Hi everyone! I am a newly licensed EMT & this is my first post on this forum! I have a scenario that I can't figure out, I am NOT looking for medical/legal advice, just your input & theories.

I called 911 for a 65 year old male who complained of nausea and dizziness. He told me that he just measured his blood pressure, the systolic was 190, I don't remember the diastolic. No pain. He was alert & oriented but tired.

Paramedics arrived and began assessing him. Reps 17, blood pressure 190/90, strong regular pulse at 70. They stated his grips & motor function were fine. He has GERD and is on various medications for it. He said he hasn't been eating much the past couple of days because of heartburn, mostly eating bananas and yogurt. His stomach appeared distended. Skin was pale and cool. Blood pressure increased to 190/100 as the paramedics were assessing him.

They took him to an ER where they did labs, cat scan and EKG. Everything came out normal except his potassium levels were low. They gave him a potassium IV and his blood pressure lowered to 107. He was discharged but still complained that he was very dizzy and tired.

What are the possible reasons for this?

 

[NomadicMedic]

That he has uncontrolled hypertension and low serum potassium.

He needs to control his HTN and eat a better diet. A full work up is in order with his PCP, sooner than later ... But there didn't seem to be anything there that screamed "oh Lordy! Get me an amber lamps! zomg!"

 

[mycrofft]

See private MD next day.
What's with the abdomen?
What are his meds and was he taking them according to instrux?
What OTC meds was he taking? How much how often?
Alcohol hx?

Fat hypertensive GERD distended belly....my spider sense says make mental post-it note for potential esoph varices.

Had a young woman c/o stomach burning and headache, feeling overall not well. After clearing up misunderstandings in hx (spoke Spanish), found out she was taking six aspirin at a time four times a day for stomach ache, had ringing in ears. Rectal guiac was positive. Admitted for dialysis, blood replacement, observation, patient teaching.