What causes sudden rise in BP of a 58 year old?
Patient: My sister (white, 58 years old, no children) has high bllod pressure and takes BP medication (lowest amount).  She takes her BP at home in the morning.  Today it was 150+/90+ and her husband took her to the hospital and they are keeping her over night.  She also had an odd sensation in her breast area (probably some kind of mild chest pain)  Her EKG showed no sign of an MI; they ran some tests and said that her tryptophan (?) levels were normal too but they could change in ~ 6-8 hours so they want her to stay overnight, to monitor her and to take blood levels again.  Thoughts on what could be causing this?  I am no alarmist but I am somewhat worried. Doctor: the blood test ordered was a troponin.  it was to check for heart damage, which would be caused by a heart attack.  you sisters symptoms are not completely consistent with a heart attack, so it is unlikely the cause of her symptoms, but it is good to rule it out. if her blood pressure is regularly this high, it should be lowered to prevent an increased risk of heart attack and stroke over the long term.  the funny sensation could have many causes, muscular or anxiety related potentially