What Causes High Blood Pressure in Kids?

Although high blood pressure, or hypertension, is a medical condition mostly associated with adults, kids can suffer from high blood pressure too. If a child's high blood pressure goes untreated, it might eventually lead to permanent damage in various organs. But if it's caught, monitored and treated early, children with high blood pressure are able to lead normal, active lives. Some of the most common causes of high blood pressure in kids are listed here.

Obesity

• Obese kids are far more likely to develop high blood pressure than children of average weight.

Diet

• Another cause of high blood pressure in kids is poor dietary habits. Children suffering from hypertension should increase their intake of vegetables, fruits, fiber and whole grains. These kids should also limit the amount of salt and sugar in their diets.

Lack of Physical Activity

• A majority of children with hypertension don't get enough exercise. These kids should participate in organized sports and perform at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily.

Other Medical Problems

• In many cases, high blood pressure in kids is a symptom of another health problem. Typical medical conditions that can trigger high blood pressure in children include chronic kidney disease, Type 1 diabetes, heart abnormalities, adrenal disorders or lupus.

Genetics

• Some kids inherit the tendency to get high blood pressure from one or both parents who suffer from hypertension. High blood pressure seems to be more common and more extreme in African American families.

Effects

• Kids with high blood pressure are putting a much heavier workload on their heart and arteries. Untreated high blood pressure increases a child's risk of stroke, kidney problems, heart attacks and hardening of the arteries as they get older.