system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 62-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his wife for high blood pressure readings at home. He is asymptomatic. He has a history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia for which he takes atenolol and atorvastatin, however, his wife reports that he recently ran out of atenolol and has not been able to refill it due to lack of health insurance. His temperature is 36.8°C (98.2°F), the pulse 65/min, the respiratory rate 22/min, and the blood pressure 201/139 mm Hg. He has no papilledema on fundoscopic examination. A CT scan shows no evidence of intracranial hemorrhage or ischemia. Of the following, what is the next best step?
assistant
Start or restart low-dose medication to reduce blood pressure gradually over the next 24–48 hours