A Growing Concern: Childhood Hypertension

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High blood pressure, or hypertension, at one time was believed to be strictly associated with adults, with the possibility of contracting it growing larger with age. But nowadays, higher numbers of children suffer from hypertension, and more attention is being paid to this situation. One percent of children below the age of 12 and up to 6% of teenagers suffer from this problem, as evidenced by a number of studies. The definition of hypertension in children is defined as having blood pressure that is higher than 95% of the children of the same age group, race and gender. To identify the cause of hypertension in children is becoming a significant concern.

It’s well known that U.S. citizens on the whole are growing more overweight. What is often overlooked is that this problem is not limited to only adults. An amazing one-third of all U.S. kids are considered at least somewhat obese. This is the main reason for childhood hypertension.

The connection between obesity and hypertension is still being researched, but the fact that it is a cause of hypertension in children as well as being one of the main causes of hypertension in adults is an established fact. And this is the one factor that can be easily controlled without the need for any medical intervention. Encourage your children to play outdoors, which will enable them burn up calories faster. It will do a lot towards eliminating a key hypertension factor in kids.

But obesity is not always caused by lack of exercise. A reason for obesity and the consequent cause of hypertension in children can be genetic. Children of parents affected with illnesses such as obesity or diabetes should be tested for the presence of any such genetic or hormonal disorders and should be treated immediately.

High blood pressure in kids is often caused by poor dietary habits. Children are drawn towards junk food and bad eating habits. Besides a natural predisposition towards fast food, the places that serve this kind of food are usually the popular hangouts for teenagers. The consumption of the unhealthy food increases dramatically once there.

There are various medical conditions which are hard to discern which could also be a cause of childhood hypertension. These disorders include sleep apnea, lupus, kidney problems and glandular disorders. Even psychological issues can cause a child to overeat. If a child is found to be suffering from hypertension, it is best to consult a doctor, even if obesity seems to be the obvious cause. There could be underlying factors that may require treatment along with the elimination of the obesity problem.

It’s essential that you manage your high blood pressure, because it can lead to serious cardiovascular disease. Learn about the causes of high blood pressure and how to manage it at High Blood Pressure Control.