Hypertension in Children and Teenagers

While many people associate hypertension, or high blood pressure, with aging and adulthood, children and teenagers are also susceptible to this condition. In the United States, almost 60 million people over age 6 (about one in every five people) suffer from hypertension.

Symptoms of Hypertension in Children

Although only about 1 to 3 percent of children are afflicted with the condition, checking children for hypertension is still important, as this condition can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. Unfortunately, many people with hypertension don’t know they have it, as symptoms often don’t appear unless the condition is very severe.

In some children, however, symptoms of hypertension do appear. If your child has any of these symptoms, see a doctor right away:

  • persistent headaches
  • frequent dizziness
  • frequent shortness of breath
  • recurring fatigue
  • visual changes.

Parents should also watch out for any breathing problems their children may have while sleeping, as this could indicate the presence of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition in which an airway obstruction causes a person to repeatedly stop breathing for at least 10 seconds through the course of the night’s sleep.

Children with sleep apnea are at a higher risk for developing hypertension due to the strain this condition puts on their bodies. Overweight children are also at a greater risk for hypertension. As a result, make sure your children exercise and eat a healthy diet so that they can stay in optimum health.

Causes of Hypertension
As obesity becomes a more common problem in children and teens, so too does hypertension. While some instances of hypertension in the kids and teens are caused by heart, urinary or kidney conditions, many cases of high blood pressure are the result of children leading a sedentary lifestyle. Children and teens need to get regular exercise and eat a healthy diet to avoid hypertension and other cardiovascular problems.

Diagnosing Hypertension in Children and Teens

Blood pressure should be checked in children during routine doctor’s visits starting at age 3. Similarly, if your child endures any acute illness, your child’s pediatrician will also regularly monitor his or her blood pressure.

While these period blood pressure checks are sufficient for children and teens with normal blood pressure levels, those with slightly or abnormally high blood pressure will need more frequent checks to locate the source of the problem.

Children who have kidney conditions, urinary conditions or heart problems may be checked for blood pressure at a younger age, as these conditions can increase a child’s likelihood for developing hypertension.

Hypertension Treatment for Kids and Teens

Hypertension treatment for children and teens varies, depending on the cause of hypertension. For example, if obesity is the cause of hypertension, lifestyle changes that include controlling a child’s weight through diet and exercise are the primary methods of treatment. Typically, medical professionals recommend making these types of lifestyle changes before prescribing medication to children.

However, medications are part of hypertension treatment when children suffer from other medical conditions, such as:

  • diabetes
  • heart disease
  • kidney disease
  • other complications related to high blood pressure
  • severe high blood pressure.

Common hypertension medications include:

  • angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  • angiotensin II receptor blockers
  • beta blockers
  • calcium channel blockers
  • diuretics.

Keep in mind that the course of medication also varies. While some children will need to take medication for long periods of time, others can go off of medication after losing weight or dealing with underlying causes of hypertension.

Although hypertension medication tend to be safe for children, as with any medication, some side effects can occur. The most common effects of medication include:

  • dizziness
  • dry mouth
  • fluid retention.

Getting treatment for hypertension is essential to preventing more serious from developing. Just like adults, children with untreated hypertension are at risk of suffering from:

  • heart failure
  • kidney disease
  • stroke.

Resources

Mayo Clinic (2006). High blood pressure and children: Early treatment offers hope. Retrieved August 28, 2007, from the Mayo Clinic Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/high-blood-pressure/HI00080/METHOD=print.

Mayo Clinic (2006). High blood pressure and children: Watch your child's weight. Retrieved August 28, 2007, from the Mayo Clinic Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/high-blood-pressure/HI00049/METHOD=print.

Nemours Foundation: Teen Health (2007). Hypertension (High Blood Pressure). Retrieved August 28, 2007, from the Nemours Foundation: Teen Health Web site: http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/heart/hypertension
.html.