Rising blood pressure problems among kids

High blood pressure is common in adults, but now-a-days it’s also an increasing concern in children, mostly due to rising obesity rates. High blood pressure or hypertension is referred to as a “silent killer.” In the past, paediatric hypertension was driven by secondary medical conditions, such as underlying heart, kidney and endocrine disorders. While the exact causes of primary hypertension are unknown and the condition is often traced to a patient’s genetics and behaviours, including poor diet and lack of exercise.

Kids and teens with primary hypertension tend to have a recent family history of the condition either from parent or grandparent. Elevated blood pressure that goes untreated in children can result in a host of adverse health effects in adulthood, from early heart attacks to long-term organ damage. But paediatric hypertension is notoriously difficult to detect.

 

Steps for heart health

The steps to prevent high blood pressure start at home, well before a doctor’s appointment. Heart- healthy foods includes cutting down on high-sodium, processed foods and integrating more fruits and veggies into the family’s daily diet. Most importantly, daily exercise is important too. So beauty is the combination of healthy body and happy heart. Such steps can help cut down on obesity and reduce the likelihood of developing hypertension, preventing potentially serious long-term problems among children.

Researchers like Fatemeh Esfarjani, Mohammadi and Fand Kelishadi R of “Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences”, Iran have been speakers to our previous conferences.