Blood Pressure and Children – Even Kids Get Hypertension

22 Jul

Posted by author as blood pressure

>>> How to Maintain Normal Range Blood Pressure with Hypercet

Most people think of high blood pressure (known as hypertension to doctors) as a condition that only adults get. But high blood pressure can happen to babies as well as toddlers - and right on up to teenagers. Recent research has prompted the American Heart Association to say that children as young as age 3 should start having yearly blood pressure check ups to see if there are any symptoms of a problem.

To understand how high blood pressure or hypertension can have an impact on kids – and why it could be dangerous – it’s important to understand what doctors mean when they speak of high blood pressure.

Blood pressure refers to how the blood flows through the walls of your blood vessels. This measurement of force reveals how hard the heart has to pump to keep your body supplied with blood.

Encouraging a normal blood pressure reading in children at a young age is very important. When you teach your kids the value of developing good BP habits now, your kids will carry them through to adulthood. This could be one of the most important things you can do for your kids.

Keep in mind, the number one reason more and more children are getting hypertension is an assortment of harmful lifestyle habits they see in their parents. Because of poor eatinghabits and lack of exercise, obesity – the most common risk factor for hypertension – is at an all time high among our young people.

When you are overweight or obese, your body must work harder to pump the blood to your system and organs. The harder your heart pumps, the more the force your blood puts on the walls of your blood vessels.

Recent studies have revealed that around 1 in 20 children have blood pressure that’s higher than it should be. This tells us that it’s plainly not just a problem for adults.

It’s something that can typically be controlled if you just know what to do about it. The same rules work for both adults and kids.

First, remember that there are usually no high blood pressure symptoms in kids or adults. This is one of the reasons it’s called a "silent killer." If you don’t have regular check ups, you won’t be able to detect a problem.

Blood Pressure Facts : Normal Blood Pressure Ranges in Children

More about Normal Blood Pressure for Children:

Healthy Not Skinny: Doctors Focus on Kids’ Blood Pressure

While high-blood pressure is generally considered an adult medical problem, its increasing prevalence among children and teenagers is putting many young people on an early trajectory for heart attacks, strokes and other serious problems [...]

High Blood Pressure Risk Looms for Teen Boys

Adolescent boys with normal blood pressure are three to four times more likely than girls to develop high blood pressure, a large study has found.

Wake-Up Call: Preventing Obesity

Another adverse impact can be long-term harm to your child’s heart. We are already aware as adults of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.