Hypertension in Youth

In children, hypertension is defined as a blood pressure reading the same as or higher than that of 90 percent of children of the same age and height. The actual blood pressure numbers (such as 120/80) change as the child grows.

Causes

• Hypertension in children can occur as the result of some other condition, such as diabetes, a heart disorder, or kidney disease. The younger the child is the more likely she has secondary hypertension, or high blood pressure caused by another disease. In order children, hypertension could be caused by being overweight, eating poorly, or not exercising enough.

Risk Factors

• Risk factors for primary hypertension in children include being overweight, having type 2 diabetes, not exercising enough, having too much salt in the diet, and having high cholesterol and triglycerides. Primary hypertension is high blood pressure that is not caused by some other disease.

Symptoms

• A child with high blood pressure could have a variety of symptoms, including headaches, trouble sleeping, tiredness, chest pain, trouble concentrating, blurred vision, and/or being short of breath.

Treatment

• As in adults, hypertension can sometimes be treated by lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising. In other cases, medication is required.

Check It Out!

• A child's doctor should check his blood pressure every year, beginning at age three.