my grandmother 220/170 bloodpressure

[SunshineLilly]

I don't know exactly where to post this question so you can give me any direction.
I'd appreciate any feedback. The thing is I have no idea what exactly happened and I think no one will tell me from my family. I live away from home. And today my aunt called and said that as she was waiting for my grandmother to come back from a 1 day vacation trip with friends, she didn't come back and later called her and told her not to worry, that she is in a hospital on systems, in another town where it all happened, that she didn't feel well and started vomiting and had a blood pressure of 220/170. When she spoke with her, her speech was slow.
She is 77 years old, very active woman, very very active and fit, she is a non smoker, non drinker for all her life and has been a tourist for all her life. Generally her blood pressure is either dropping low or high so she doesn't have either high one or low one,but having kind of both problems before.
This is all the information I got. What I'm worried is for me this sounds like either a stroke or a heart-attack.
The thing is no one will tell me if this is so from my family.
My questions are:
-is it what i am thinking about the stroke and heart-attack?
-is there another possibility that i am missing of what this could have been?
-what is more likely with these symptoms - stroke or heart-attack?
-and because i couldn't find information - after a heart-attack can a person serve himself?
-any best or worst scenario here?

P.S. I know your information will be just speculations over the info provided,but i'd like to hear a medic's speculations over the case, not just mine. Would really appreciate feedback

[NTB]

hi, do this search:
http://www.google.com/search?q=hypertensive+emergency+cognitive

and pay special attention to the first result, which is "Acute emergencies and critical care of the geriatric patient - Google Books Result"

She had a "hypertensive emergency". It is a complex issue, and you'll need to get more info about her condition. Please post back if things are unclear in that reference.

You'd then also want to know about "labile hypertension", and possible hormonal causes, to try to keep it from happening again.

[Jerry_NJ]

There is nothing in what you tell us that leads me to think Stroke or Heart Attack.  The high blood pressure is way over the top, real high, but if it is a short term/time thing it may not be a problem... don't know.

As there isn't any mention of irregular heart beat or palpitations this may not be the best forum to post and ask questions.  May get better results from:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Heart-Disease/show/72
or
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Stroke/show/62

given your analysis.  Perhaps you can find some posts there that will be helpful to read.