Does your child have high blood pressure? (High Blood Pressure) - Let's be aware of this!

What would you think if, during your child's annual medical check-up, the doctor suddenly said, "Your baby's blood pressure seems a little high, let's check again?" Like many parents, you might feel a little scared and worried. " Oh my , high blood pressure at such a young age? How is that?" You might think. But this is really nothing to be afraid of. However, it is not something to ignore either. Today, we will talk about high blood pressure, or increased blood pressure, which can affect not only adults but also young children.

Simply put, what is this pressure?

We all have blood flowing through our bodies. Think of it like water flowing through a water pipe. As the blood flows through the veins, it exerts a slight pressure on the walls of the veins. That pressure is what we call "blood pressure." If this pressure is consistently higher than normal, we call it hypertension . When this condition occurs in young children and adolescents, we call it pediatric hypertension .

According to current data, about one in 25 children between the ages of 12-19 has high blood pressure. And about one in 10 children has elevated blood pressure.

What are the symptoms that indicate that a child has high blood pressure?

This is what surprises many parents. Most of the time, children with high blood pressure don't show any symptoms. They play, run, and do their schoolwork normally. This is why high blood pressure is usually discovered when they go to the doctor and have their blood pressure measured during a routine checkup.

In severe cases, symptoms such as headaches, chest pain, and difficulty breathing may occur, but this is very rare.

Because of this silent nature, it is essential to take your child for regular checkups , even if there is no illness. This is especially important if your child has risk factors for high blood pressure.

Why do young children have high blood pressure? What are the main reasons?

There are two main types of causes that affect high blood pressure in children. Let's try to understand these in a simple way.

A little more about Primary Hypertension...

This is the most common type seen in children. Children with this condition have several common characteristics:

• Over 6 years of age.
• Having high blood pressure in the family (mother, father, grandmother, aunt). This is a genetic influence.
• Being overweight or obese. If a child is overweight for their height, it can increase their blood pressure. Doctors measure this using a value called BMI (Body Mass Index) .

A little more about Secondary Hypertension...

Here we say that the pressure increases due to another disease. The main cause of secondary hypertension in children is kidney diseases. Things like narrowing of the veins that supply blood to the kidneys, kidney infections (Glomerulonephritis, Pyelonephritis) can affect this.

In addition to kidney disease, there are several other causes:

• Congenital heart disease: For example, a condition called `(Aortic Coarctation)`.
• Hormonal imbalances: Conditions such as hyperthyroidism.
• Breathing difficulties associated with snoring during sleep: We call this `(Obstructive Sleep Apnea)`.
• Certain medications: Some birth control pills, steroids (Corticosteroids).
• Genetic diseases: Rare genetic conditions like `(Neurofibromatosis type 1)`.
• Environmental factors: Exposure to heavy metals like lead.

What are the risk factors for high blood pressure?

If your child has these things, the risk of developing high blood pressure is slightly higher.

• Overweight or obesity: When body fat increases, it can put pressure on the kidneys and increase blood pressure.
• Family history: If your mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather developed high blood pressure before the age of 60, your child's chances of developing it double.
• High-salt foods: Salt (sodium) is a substance that causes the body to retain water. If the food we eat is too salty, the amount of water in the blood increases and the pressure on the blood vessels increases. Things like biscuits, sausages, cheese, preserved foods, and pickles are high in salt.
• Lack of exercise: If a child sits in one place all day (in front of a phone, tablet, TV), the heart becomes weak. When the heart exercises, it becomes stronger and gets used to pumping blood with less effort.
• Diabetes: High blood sugar levels over time can damage blood vessels and kidneys and increase blood pressure.
• Premature birth and low birth weight: New research has found that if a baby is born prematurely or has a low birth weight, there is a risk of increased blood pressure in the future.

How does a doctor determine if a child's blood pressure is high?

Unlike checking an adult's blood pressure, checking a child's blood pressure is a little more complicated because normal blood pressure values ​​vary depending on the child's age, gender, and height .

The doctor does not diagnose a disease by checking the pressure once. He measures the pressure on several days, on several occasions. There is a reason for that. Some children (and adults) get a little scared and nervous when they see a doctor or come to the hospital. At that time, the pressure may temporarily increase. We call this White Coat Syndrome . That is why they measure it several times.

If it is confirmed that the pressure is high, the doctor will next try to find the cause. To do this:

• Ask the child and parents about their diet, exercise, and family illnesses .
• Blood tests are done to check things like kidney function and hormone levels.
• An EKG (Electrocardiogram) test is performed to check the functioning of the heart.
• If necessary, you will be referred for imaging tests of the heart or kidneys.

What are normal and abnormal blood pressure levels in children?

For children 13 years of age and older, the values ​​are determined in the same way as for adults.

For children 12 years of age and younger, the normal range is determined by percentile charts that compare their age and height. Your doctor will explain this to you.

What can be done to control a child's blood pressure?

The good news is that high blood pressure in children can be well controlled. Treatment options may vary from child to child.

1. Lifestyle Changes

These are often the first things doctors recommend. If the whole family joins in on these, the results are very successful.

• A healthy diet: There is a special diet called the DASH Diet . Simply put, it involves eating more vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. And reducing foods high in salt, sugar, and fat (especially saturated fat).
• Increase physical activity: It is very important for children to run, jump, and play until they sweat and fall asleep. Doing this for at least 40-60 minutes a day, 3-5 days a week, can help reduce stress.
• Managing stress: Yes, even young children experience stress due to things like exams and schoolwork. This stress can also increase blood pressure. This condition can be controlled with things like breathing exercises and meditation.

2. Medication

If lifestyle changes alone cannot control your blood pressure, or if your blood pressure is very high, your doctor will prescribe medication.

Treatment usually starts with the lowest dose.

• ACE inhibitors
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Calcium channel blockers
• Beta-blockers
• Diuretics (water pills)

Medications such as: All of these medications can have side effects. Therefore, talk to your doctor about them before starting any medication.

Can we prevent our child from developing high blood pressure?

Yes, there are many things we can do to reduce the risk.

• Maintain a healthy weight for your child's height.
• As a family, reduce foods high in salt, sugar, and fat. Limit things like store-bought foods, sweetened drinks, and snacks.
• Encourage your child to be active for at least an hour a day.
• Get good sleep. Make it a habit to go to bed at a set time and wake up at a set time.
• Keep your child away from smoking completely. If someone in the house smokes, it will also affect the child (secondhand smoke).

It's normal to feel sad and scared when you find out your child has high blood pressure. But the important thing is, this is a manageable condition. Your doctor and healthcare team are here to help and guide you, your child, and your family through this journey.

High Blood Pressure in Children, Pediatric Hypertension, Children's Health, Overweight, Healthy Food, Pediatric Diseases, Blood Pressure