High blood pressure in children

Most people think of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, as a condition that affects older people. This may have been true in the past, but these days, high blood pressure affects people of all ages - including young children.

Why is high blood pressure in children a growing problem? What can you do to protect your child from this threat? The first step is to learn all you can about high blood pressure in children, its causes, consequences and treatment.

What is high blood pressure in children?

Blood pressure is the force of blood as it flows through the body's blood vessels. Under normal conditions, the heart pumps blood through the body’s entire circulatory system. The blood vessels widen and contract as needed to keep blood flowing well. However in a person with hypertension the blood pushes too hard against the blood vessels. This pressure can damage the blood vessels, the heart and other organs.

It's easy for adults to tell if they have high blood pressure simply by having their blood pressure measured and comparing the results to recommended levels. Children have the same tests; however interpreting the numbers is trickier. Your GP will use charts based on your child's sex, height and blood pressure numbers to determine whether or not your child has high blood pressure.

How high blood pressure affects children

As in adults high blood pressure in children can result in serious, long term health effects including:

•         Heart disease

•         Kidney disease

•         Stroke

Obesity is the number one risk factor for high blood pressure in children

Risk factors for high blood pressure in children include obesity and a family history of high blood pressure. Other risk factors may include medical problems such as sleep apnoea or other sleep disorders.

Obesity is considered the primary risk for high blood pressure in children. Not only does being obese put your child at risk of high blood pressure, but also for a range of other health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

What causes obesity?

Sometimes obesity can be linked to other health problems. However in most cases obesity is due to the combination of two factors:

•         Too much food. Many children eat more food than their bodies require. Obesity can also result when a child's diet is full of unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks. For that reason it is important to keep an eye on the quality as well as the quantity of the food your child eats.

•         Too little activity. Many children do not exercise enough and spend hours every day engaged in sedentary activities such as watching television or playing video games.

Treating high blood pressure in children

Researchers are still trying to determine the most effective way to treat high blood pressure in children. In general treating high blood pressure in children is not that different from treating high blood pressure in adults. If your child has high blood pressure, work closely with your child's consultant to find which treatment plan will work best for your child. Here are some general guidelines for treating high blood pressure in children: