Heart Disease Risk Factors for Children and Teenagers
High blood pressure in teenagers
If your teenager has high blood pressure then this may be caused by lifestyle factors such as those mentioned above. It is still unusual for a teenager to develop high blood pressure although this is starting to change with the rise in obesity.
Obesity levels are increasing in young people which pre-dispose them towards all types of health problems. This includes high blood pressure.
Untreated high blood pressure can lead to serious medical conditions later on in life such as heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. But it can be controlled via medication and a healthy lifestyle which means that the young person can lead a normal life.
How is blood pressure measured?
The doctor will measure your child’s blood pressure using a device called a sphygmomanometer.
Blood pressure readings measure the two parts of blood pressure: systolic and diastolic pressures. Systolic pressure is the force of blood flow through an artery when the heart beats. Diastolic pressure is the force of blood flow within blood vessels when the heart rests between beats.
A blood pressure reading measures both the systolic and diastolic forces, with the systolic pressure listed first. The numbers show the pressure in units of millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)-how high the pressure inside the arteries would be able to raise a column of mercury.
Symptoms of high blood pressure in young people
Children, like adults do not experience any symptoms of high blood pressure but some may display the following:
Headaches
Poor concentration
Chest pain
Excessive tiredness
Breathlessness
Blurred vision
Severe cases of high blood pressure can cause nosebleeds, heart palpitations, dizziness and nausea.
If your child shows any of these symptoms then seek medical advice as soon as possible.
It is a good idea to have your child’s blood pressure checked on a regular basis especially if they have an underlying condition or are overweight or obese.
Blood pressure is measured using two numbers -an upper number or ‘systolic pressure’ and a lower number or ‘diastolic’.
But normal blood pressure readings in children and teenagers vary according to age, sex and height. In this sense they differ from the readings used for adults.
The doctor will look at your child’s age, sex, and height to determine the age-, sex-, and height-specific systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Doctors use this method because it lets them look at different levels of growth to determine blood pressure. It also lets them get the most accurate classification of blood pressure according to your child’s body size.
How is high blood pressure in children treated?
In most cases, lifestyle changes will help children control their high blood pressure.
Help your child maintain a healthy body weight. Children who are overweight usually have higher blood pressure than those who are not.
Increase their physical activity.
Limit how much salt they eat.
Warn them about the dangers of cigarette smoking. The nicotine in cigarettes causes the blood vessels to narrow, making it even harder for blood to flow through the vessels.
If a program of diet and exercise does not lower your child’s blood pressure, medicines may be prescribed.