Is Your Child Feeling the Pressure?
High blood pressure (HBP), that is.
Approximately five of every 100 American children have above-normal blood pressure, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), but fewer than one in 100 have HBP, also known as hypertension, that is considered “medically significant.” However, pediatric hypertension appears to be a growing problem, and it’s linked to a familiar culprit: obesity.
“As children’s weight increases, we’re seeing a huge rise in cases of hypertension,” says Vikas Dharnidharka, MD, MPH, director of pediatric nephrology at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Most children won’t have any symptoms of hypertension, although fatigue, dizziness, headaches and difficulty breathing can be signs of the condition.”
The AAP recommends that your pediatrician measure your child’s blood pressure at least once per year beginning at age 3. While a reading of 120/80 is considered normal for adults, “normal” blood pressure for children varies by individual, as it’s calculated using age, gender and height.
Medications are available to treat hypertension in children, but, according to Dr. Dharnidharka, once a child begins taking them, he or she will likely have to do so indefinitely. For that reason, lifestyle modifications, including exercising, managing weight and eating a heart-healthy diet, are the ideal treatments for hypertension—and the foundations for a lifetime of good health.
While hypertension is common among adults and treated by primary care physicians, the condition is not as common among children and is primarily diagnosed and treated by pediatric nephrologists. Find a pediatric nephrologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.