Causes of high blood pressure in children

Children with high blood pressure

High blood pressure can be a major problem with children, and according to the American Heart Association, all children older than three years should have their blood pressure measured per year. If we know that someone has a high blood pressure, doctors can cut in the root that condition. Factors such as junk food, genetics, and very poor physical activity are major problems that can lead to the development of hypertension in children.

Various diseases, such as heart or kidney disease for example, can cause high blood pressure in children, but this condition can also be a side effect of some medicines. If a child`s medicine is replaced with another one that does not have the same side effect, high blood pressure will return to normal. In other cases, if treated properly, high blood pressure returns to normal as well.

Causes of high blood pressure with children

According to the definition of hypertension, high blood pressure is the one that is a little bit higher than the blood pressure of 90% of the children. It all varies and depends on their age, sex and other elements. As the children grow, their blood pressure also changes, which is one of the main reasons why hypertension in children is not diagnosed on time. Obese children usually have high blood pressure, but it can also be inherited from the parents. However, there is no need for worry, because with a proper diet and exercise, high blood pressure can very quickly return to normal.

Risk factors

Various factors of risk may develop due to some other conditions, such as kidney disease and other underlying diseases, and in such cases, high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension. There are many other conditions (type 1 diabetes, disorders of adrenaline, heart problems, narrowing of the kidney artery etc.) which might have high blood pressure as a symptom. There is also a possibility that a child has essential hypertension, which develops without any underlying condition, on its own. Things that may induce high blood pressure are overweight, not enough of activity, type 2 diabetes, high level of cholesterol, triglycerides, and too much salt in the child’s food.

Since the children cannot take care of themselves, they are their parents' responsibility. The parents are the ones who have to take care about their children's diet, activities and other things that affect their life. It is important to take care of a child’s diet, so that it can learn from the beginning to eat and live healthy. This is also important because of the fact that in the future a child may confront with some serious conditions that are directly results of an unhealthy lifestyle.