Around 1.3 million young adults have high blood pressure, reportedly. High blood pressure is the force of the blood that is used to push against the walls of the arteries. There are two numbers of blood pressures:
Systolic Pressure: Systolic pressure is the higher number that shows the highest pressure of the blood inside the artery walls. This highest number occurs when the heart contracts and pumps the blood to the body.
Diastolic Pressure: It refers to the lower number and shows the lowest pressure inside the walls of the artery. This results in when the heart relaxes and fills with blood.
The high blood pressure shows that the pressure inside the arteries is too high, and it may cause harm to them. Different factors can affect blood pressure, such as physical activity, age, gender, weight, diet plan, illness, medication, time of the day, emotions, etc.
If your child has high blood pressure for once, it does not show any threat until you notice a consistent rise in blood pressure.
How Do Doctors Diagnose High Blood Pressure in Children?
The doctor will perform a physical exam. High blood pressure may be caused by different reasons. That’s why your doctor will check the medical history of your kid and ask how much your child is active.
Your doctor measures the blood pressure of your child, and it can be measured more than once. If the blood pressure of your kid is high after three checkups, the doctor will declare that your kid has a high blood pressure problem.
To determine the primary and secondary blood pressure, the doctor often asks for different tests, such as:
- Ultrasound
- Echocardiogram
- Blood test
- Urine sample test
Which Causes High Blood Pressure in Teens and Kids?
The unknown cause of high blood pressure is known as primary. When a child has an unhealthy diet and lifestyle leads to high blood pressure that is known as secondary high blood pressure.
Causes of Secondary High Blood Pressure
- Kidney diseases
- Heart diseases
- Illegal drugs like cocaine
- Stress and anxiety
- Mental illness
- Prescription medicines
According to studies, you need to check the following facts that can put your children at high risk of high blood pressure.
- Obesity or overweight
- Gender, Boys
- A child with a family history of high blood pressure
- A kid whose mother smoked during pregnancy
Signs of High Blood Pressure
My family pediatric nephrologist in Lahore says that High blood pressure in kids has no symptoms. Studies say that high blood pressure is a silent killer and has no clear signs.
Ways to Treat High Blood Pressure in Children
The doctor will consider different facts to introduce a solution to treat high blood pressure, such as age, weight, condition, etc. Remember that secondary high blood pressure can be treated because the causes are known, like kidney diseases, heart issues, etc.
- Parents should introduce food to children that are low in salt.
- You need to fill a plate with colorful fruits and vegetables.
- Whole grains and low-fat dairy products are the best sources to maintain blood pressure.
- Ask your child to cut off sweet foods and fatty foods.
Some other lifestyle changes can bring incredible changes into your kids’ life and make them more active.
- You should get help from a nutritionist to get a diet-healthy diet plan for your child. It is crucial to maintain a healthy weight.
- Make sure that your kids stay away from smoking.
- Alcohol consumption can cause high blood pressure in children.
- Introduce some fun activities to your kids and ensure that they are involved in physical activities.
- Being parents, you should notice any sudden change in your kids’ behavior. If your child is dealing with stress, help them and motivate them to grow and manage the stress and anxiety.
Final Thoughts
Researchers from Park View Clinic say that parents should limit the screen time of the kids. Excessive usage of digital devices can cause mental illness that may result in high blood pressure. It also prohibits physical activity, but studies say that work out can help to manage stress issues.
