HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN TEENAGERS ? by Dr. (Mrs.) Sylvia Olomu
children, aged thirteen and older, elevated blood pressure is defined as blood pressure of 120 to 129mmHg systolic and less than 80mmHg diastolic, and high blood pressure as blood pressure greater than or equal to 130 systolic and 80mmHg diastolic, according to the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) Clinical Practice Guideline 2017. WHAT ARE THE COMMON CAUSES OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN TEENAGERS? Hypertension is characterized as “primary” or “essential” hypertension when an identifiable disorder cannot be found and “secondary” hypertension when there is an underlying cause. Although secondary hypertension was previously more common in children, essential hypertension, previously considered a disease of adulthood, is now the most common cause of hypertension in teenagers.
High blood pressure has long been a neglected issue in children. It is a growing problem in children and teens that is often overlooked. Hypertension in teenagers is increasingly recognized as a serious public health problem, not only because of its rising prevalence but because growing evidence indicates that elevated blood pressure early in life has serious lifelong effects on the heart and blood vessels. There is extensive evidence that risk factors for diseases of the heart and blood vessels occur early in life and cause premature organ damage that tracks into adulthood. Stiffness of the arteries has been observed in children and teens in relation to high blood pressure, hence, early detection of this and other changes is essential for effective intervention and prevention of health consequences in older ages. WHAT IS BLOOD PRESSURE? R
Blood pressure is created by blood D pushing against the wall of the arS teries when the heart pumps blood. This is important for the proper flow F of blood from the heart to all the | 8 |
body organs and tissues. It is the measurement of the force exerted against the arteries when the heart pumps blood through the body. Blood pressure readings are given as two numbers and are written this way: 120/80. The number at the top, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in the arteries while the heart is pumping. The number below, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the blood pressure when the heart rests between beats. One or both of these numbers can be high.
Increasing body mass index, obesity, and abdominal circumference are correlated with increased rates of essential hypertension. Being black and being male, family history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease, low birth weight, sleep disorders as well as smoking and dietary factors (eating too much salt and having high cholesterol) are also contributary. Secondary hypertension however is mostly caused by health conditions like kidney diseases and diabetes mellitus.
WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
HOW IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE DIAGNOSED IN TEENS?
High blood pressure is when blood pressure is consistently higher than normal. This means putting an increased amount of pressure on the blood vessels causing the heart to work harder than it should. For long, the diagnosis of high blood in children was only made in the presence of very elevated blood pressure levels. With the advent of blood pressure nomograms, however, it became apparent that more children than normally thought had blood pressures above the normal range. In
Typically, high blood pressure may not have warning signs or symptoms. However, severe symptoms such as severe headache, vomiting, nosebleeds, or even seizures can occur in some individuals when the blood pressure is very high. The only way to be certain of the presence of high blood pressure is to have the blood pressure measured. This can be done at home using a home blood pressure monitor or at a healthcare facility by a healthcare professional. For a diagnosis of hypertension to be made, A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE
