What is the standard treatment for a patient diagnosed with hypertensive crisis?

The standard treatment for a patient diagnosed with a hypertensive crisis is to administer antihypertensive medication. A hypertensive crisis is characterized by severely elevated blood pressure, often defined as systolic pressure over 180 mm Hg or diastolic pressure over 120 mm Hg, which poses a risk for end-organ damage. The primary goal of treatment in this situation is to quickly and safely reduce blood pressure to prevent complications such as stroke, acute renal failure, or myocardial infarction.

Antihypertensive medications typically used include intravenous (IV) agents like nitroprusside, labetalol, or nitroglycerin, allowing for rapid titration of dosage to effectively manage the acute elevation in blood pressure. These medications can quickly dilate blood vessels, decrease cardiac output, or reduce overall vascular resistance, helping to stabilize the patient's condition.

Other choices, such as encouraging deep breathing exercises or prescribing diuretics, while important in certain clinical contexts, do not directly address the immediate need to lower blood pressure in a hypertensive crisis. Physical therapy is not relevant in the acute management of hypertension. Hence, administering antihypertensive medication is the most appropriate and effective intervention for this critical situation.