Risks Associated With High Blood Pressure – Children’s Health January 24, 2018, 11:43:00 AM CST January 23, 2023, 4:24:14 AM CST High Blood Pressure in Children Learn the signs and causes of hypertension in children and ways to prevent future health risks for your child.
You may think that hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition that only affects adults. However, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), about 3.5% of children and adolescents have high blood pressure. If left untreated, the condition can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, and vision loss.
Risks Associated With High Blood Pressure
“Blood pressure measures the force against the walls of your blood vessels. It’s the pressure your heart has to pump to pump blood to the rest of your body,” explains Alan Singh, a pediatric cardiologist at Children’s Heart. Professionals is a partner in the field of child health care. “When blood pressure is high, the heart has to work harder. Over time, this high blood pressure can damage various organ systems in the body.”
High Blood Pressure (hypertension)
However, regular checkups can help detect high blood pressure in children. Learn more about high blood pressure in children and ways to help your child stay healthy.
A child’s blood pressure should be checked once a year from the age of 3. Your child should sit comfortably in the chair with their legs and arms crossed. Your child’s doctor or nurse will use a stethoscope and an arm cuff to check your child’s blood pressure.
If a child has a medical condition that increases the risk of high blood pressure, such as obesity or kidney disease, blood pressure will be checked at each doctor’s visit. If a child’s blood pressure is high during a well-child visit, their blood pressure is also frequently checked.
Your child’s pediatrician will monitor blood pressure trends over time in addition to an initial screening to make an accurate diagnosis of hypertension.
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There is no single number or blood pressure that is considered normal for all children. A child’s healthy blood pressure depends on their age, height, and gender.
For children younger than 13, your pediatrician will use a percentile chart to compare your child’s blood pressure with peers of the same age, height, and gender. This allows you to more accurately determine whether a young child has high blood pressure. If a child’s blood pressure is above 90 percent, hypertension is considered high blood pressure if it is above 95 percent.
For adolescents over 13 years of age, the blood pressure range is the same as for adults:
If your child’s pediatrician sees signs of high blood pressure, he or she will monitor your child’s blood pressure closely or refer you to a specialist to address health issues. Your child may wear a 24-hour portable blood pressure monitor (called an ambulatory blood pressure monitor or ABPM). It can be worn at home during the child’s normal routine and is measured every 20-30 minutes during the day and every 30-60 minutes at night.
High Blood Pressure Dangers: Hypertension’s Effects On Your Body
This monitor can help your pediatrician determine if your child needs further tests or treatment by providing a complete picture of your blood pressure around the clock.
Hypertension is often a silent condition. There are usually no obvious symptoms for parents to know that their child has high blood pressure; It is usually diagnosed when a doctor finds it during an exam. Therefore, it is very important to check your blood pressure regularly.
Some children with high blood pressure may experience frequent headaches, vision changes, or dizziness. If your child complains of these symptoms, contact the pediatrician.
A child’s blood pressure may be high when measured for many reasons, including stress, illness, recent physical activity, true hypertension, or a medical condition.
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When a young child (under age 6) develops high blood pressure, the cause is often an associated medical condition, such as kidney disease. It is called secondary hypertension.
If there is no underlying medical cause for high blood pressure, it is called primary hypertension. Primary hypertension is common in older children and adolescents and is often associated with obesity or familial hypertension.
“There is an increasing trend in the number of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese, and this is the main cause of high blood pressure in children,” says Smita Vidi, a pediatric nephrologist and assistant professor of child health. UT Southwestern. “Also, children eat a lot of processed foods that are high in salt. A high-salt diet greatly contributes to high blood pressure.”
If your child is diagnosed with hypertension, the pediatrician may recommend lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, or getting enough sleep.
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If necessary, your child’s doctor may prescribe medication to control blood pressure. These drugs are drugs that adults take in doses that are appropriate for their age and weight. Your child’s doctor can choose the best medication for your child based on his or her individual health profile and risk factors.
You can help your child prevent high blood pressure and complications. Continue to be a good role model by talking about the importance of a healthy lifestyle – making healthy food choices and exercising as a family.
“Taking steps as a family to stay healthy is key to preventing hypertension in children,” says Dr. Widi. “Try to make time for fun activities with your kids every day, like biking, dancing, swimming, or going to a nearby park.”
Regardless of the cause of high blood pressure, Children’s Health professionals can provide multidisciplinary care. Learn more about hypertension and how we can help.
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Children’s Health will not sell, share or rent your information to third parties. Read our privacy policy. Did you know that high blood pressure or hypertension is now defined as a blood pressure (BP) of 130/80? With this new measure, experts estimate that 46% of US adults have stage 1 hypertension. Here’s what’s called “normal” and “high” blood pressure and what’s called “Stage 1” and “Stage 2” hypertension:
Upper thigh, systolic pressure, measures arteries during heartbeat. The bottom number, diastolic pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries
High blood pressure is dangerous and increases as it rises. Here we will talk about the potential dangers of high blood pressure (HBP) and what you can do to improve your blood pressure health.
Here are 5 High Blood Pressure Dangers You Don’t Want to Ignore High blood pressure (hypertension) can slowly damage your body before symptoms appear. If left untreated, you could end up with a disabling, life-threatening or fatal heart attack. ” – Mayo Clinic staff No. 1 risk: heart attack or stroke
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High blood pressure can damage the body if left unchecked. Blood vessel health is important for getting the blood and oxygen needed by all parts of the body, including the organs. Hypertension increases the risk of various heart diseases and disorders:
Coronary artery disease: This disorder affects the arteries responsible for supplying blood to the heart. CAD narrows these arteries, cutting off needed blood and oxygen. CAD can cause heart disease, chest pain, or an irregular heartbeat.
Heart Failure: The stress on the heart caused by hypertension causes it to weaken. As a result, the heart cannot do the extra work it needs, which leads to heart failure.
A constant supply of blood is necessary for the functioning of the brain. When this blood supply is reduced, brain cells begin to die, which can be life- or health-threatening. These challenges include:
The Dangers Of High Blood Pressure
Transient ischemic attack (TIA): A short-term interruption of the blood supply, usually the result of a blood clot. A TIA is a big warning sign that someone may be having a full-blown stroke.
Impairment: The brain is responsible for cognitive processing, an energy-intensive task that depends on blood-oxygen. When the blood supply is cut off, it cannot function at its normal capacity, thus creating a risk of stroke.
Stroke: A stroke is the worst thing that can happen to the brain. During this period, brain cells die quickly. Without medical intervention, a stroke can lead to disability or death.
The main job of our kidneys is to filter waste from the blood – this naturally requires strong blood vessels. High blood pressure can cause all kinds of kidney problems, including:
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Aneurysm: When something obstructs a blood vessel, it can cause fluid to build up, causing swelling or an aneurysm. If the blood vessel wall is unable to contain the accumulated fluid, it may burst.
Kidney Scarring: Kidney scarring is often the next step in kidney failure. Kidney stones can be caused by a variety of factors, including disease, drugs, HIV, or diabetes. Because cysts appear in groups, kidneys
