children s health issues
High Blood Pressure in Children
Introduction
High blood pressure (hypertension) is persistently high pressure in the arteries. Usually, high blood pressure in children, as in adults, has no identifiable cause. During childhood, most children with high blood pressure have no symptoms, although symptoms may develop later. Doctors measure blood pressure several times with a sphygmomanometer (a soft rubber cuff connected to a rubber bulb that is used to inflate the cuff and a meter that registers the pressure of the cuff) or sometimes with an automated instrument called an oscillometer If children have high blood pressure, doctors often do tests to look for possible causes. Treatment usually starts with lifestyle changes, but drugs are sometimes needed. When blood pressure is checked, two values are recorded. The higher value reflects the highest pressure in the arteries, which is reached when the heart contracts (during systole). The lower value reflects the lowest pressure in the arteries, which is reached just before the heart begins to contract again (during diastole). Blood pressure is written as systolic pressure/diastolic pressure—for example, 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury), referred to as 120 over 80. High blood pressure often begins during childhood. In the United States, about 2 to 4% of children have high blood pressure. Another 3 to 4% have blood pressure that is at the high end of normal. Worldwide, about 4% of children are estimated to have high blood pressure. The percentage of children with high blood pressure seems to be increasing, probably because more and more children are becoming overweight or Obesity in Adolescents . In children under 13 years of age, the values that are considered high vary based on sex, age, and height. Thus, there is no clear-cut blood pressure that indicates high blood pressure for all children. Rather, elevated blood pressure is diagnosed if a child's blood pressure is the same as or higher than the blood pressure of 90% of children who are the same sex, age, and height. In adolescents (13 years of age or over), blood pressure is classified as it is in adults: Normal: Lower than 120 systolic blood pressure and lower than 80 diastolic blood pressure Elevated: 120 to 129 systolic blood pressure and lower than 80 diastolic blood pressure Stage 1 (mild) high blood pressure: 130/80 to 139/89) Stage 2 high blood pressure: 140/90 or higher The body has many The Body's Control of Blood Pressure . The body can change the following: Amount of blood the heart pumps Diameter of arteries Volume of blood in the bloodstream To increase blood pressure, the heart can pump more blood by pumping more forcefully or more rapidly. Small arteries can narrow (constrict), forcing the blood from each heartbeat through a narrower space than normal. Because the space in the arteries is narrower, the same amount of blood passing through them increases the blood pressure. Veins can constrict to reduce their capacity to hold blood, forcing more blood into the arteries. As a result, blood pressure increases. The kidneys can add more fluid to the bloodstream by excreting less water and sodium (salt). As a result, blood volume and thus blood pressure are increased. To decrease blood pressure, the heart can pump less forcefully or rapidly, small arteries and veins can widen (dilate), and the kidneys can remove fluid and sodium from the bloodstream. 