I your blood pressure is 171/126 with pulse 78 should you go to ER?

Most important right now as soon as you see this if you haven't already, take two or three aspirins (365 mg), and continue with one to two every 4 hours. This is a blood thinning precaution now advised by cardiac care professionals. Generally a blood pressure of above 180/120 is considered an emergency so the upper number,systolic, is too close for comfort and the lower, diastolic is above the ER limit. Your heart is not relaxing enough in the diastolic phase. Anything over 160/100 is Stage II hypertension and can lead to heart attack & stroke. Take a deep breath and sit for 5 minutes then take your pressure again. If the sphgmomanometer reads you that high again and especially if you have any other symptom such as chest pain, upper back pain, nausea, shortness of breath, severe headache, palpitations, cold sweat, or blurry vision go ahead & call ambulance. You have definite risk. If you have a lower reading (in a somewhat safer area below 160/100) after relaxing and there are no other adverse symptoms wait for morning, call your doctor's answering service and make a 'urgent' appointment, better yet, have s/him call you. Don't wait a week or more to get professional help. The pulse of 78, not significant ; it would be very significant if it became thready and above 100. Today is Sunday so in the interim get further blood pressure checks to make sure pressure is under limit, reduce salt intake to zero, don't eat any fats (like pork or bacon), avoid caffeine for a while and rest.

Thanks for answering my question. I am very concerned. But what do you do when a person won't take heed to the warning signs? I don't know what else to do.....

Everybody is in some denial about their own health, and ultimately if of sound mind & an adult it is the decision of the patient. You only can do what you can do. Perhaps the doctor could call her/him and give stern advise. If the patient smokes hide the cigs; drinks, hide the liquor; they'll always get more. When s/he really hurts s/he will seek help, but it could be too late.

Yes take an aspirin to help thin your blood, thus lowering your blood pressure. Head straight to the ER.