### instruction:
If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description.

### input:
Hi. I recently went to the Dr. & found out my blood pressure was 170/102.  They told me to contact my primary physician & was not able to get appt until next week.  I have a home bp machine & have been checking it daily. The reading have been as high as 212/117 & as low as 154/100.  But today when I woke up, I have a headache, feel lethargic, my head is a little foggy & my bp was 176/99.  My wife is worried & thinks we should head to either Dr. or ER. So I guess my question is, should I see someone or can I wait for my appt?

### output:

Hello! Thank you for asking on Chat Doctor! Regarding your concern, I would recommend going to the ER for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG and a chest x-ray. You need to perform some tests (like a complete blood count, kidney and liver function tests, thyroid hormone levels, fasting glucose, blood electrolytes, blood lipid profile, etc.), to exclude possible causes of a secondary hypertension. I would like to explain that uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to hypertensive encephalopathy (which is a brain dysfunction from the disruption of the blood-brain barrier from high blood pressure), with a similar symptomatology. If not treated, it can lead to seizures and possible intracranial hemorrhage or stroke. Other complications of chronic uncontrolled high blood pressure, are progressive damage to the blood vessels, which leads to cardio-vascular disease. I recommend taking sublingual Captopril which will help reduce your blood pressure, while going to the ER. Hope to have been of help! Best regards, 