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Hypertension is not only a condition for adults but it can also affect children
kids and even infants. When you see high blood pressure in children
the basic cause is either heart or Kidney. But it has been seen that children do have high blood pressure even though they have no heart or kidney problem but there's a family history of high blood pressure and an unhealthy lifestyle - a bad diet
excess weight
stress
and insufficient physical activity.

Though it is estimated that 4.5% of kids have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is very common among adults but it is also increasing in children these days
a trend that researchers link to the increase in childhood obesity.

The only way to know whether your kid has hypertension is to get it checked regularly. Doctors usually start measuring blood pressure during routine check-ups when a child is about 3 years old.If it remains untreated
high blood pressure can eventually lead to damage to the heart
brain
kidneys
and eyes. But if it's caught early
monitored
and treated
a child with high blood pressure can have an active
normal life.

Long-Term Complications of High Blood Pressure
When a kid has high blood pressure
the heart and arteries have a much heavier workload. Heart has to work against great force
The heart must pump harder and the arteries are under greater strain as they carry blood. If high blood pressure continues for a long time
the heart and arteries may no longer work as well as they should. Having high blood pressure puts a child at a higher risk for stroke TIA
CVA
heart attack
kidney failure
loss of vision
and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Though child may not show symptoms of high blood pressure
it still affects the body and puts the child at risk for those long-term health problems. In rare cases
severe hypertension can cause headaches
dizziness
nosebleeds
heart palpitations
visual changes and nausea. If your child has severe high blood pressure and experiences any of these symptoms
contact your doctor immediately.

When you go to a doctor with your children
It's not unusual for a first blood pressure reading to be high because the child is nervous
so the doctor will likely take three or four readings - and use an average to determine whether your child has high blood pressure or is at risk for developing hypertension.

Causes of High Blood Pressure
The causes of high blood pressure differ
depending on the age of the child. The younger the child
the more likely the high blood pressure is due to some other condition. High blood pressure among infants most commonly occurs in premature babies. Some newborns have high blood pressure because of problems with the heart
or vascular system
kidneys and lungs. Often
these problems are due to bronchopulmonary dysplasia
an immaturity of the lungs in premature babies
or problems of vessels like coarctation of the aorta
a narrowing of part of the major blood vessel that transports blood away from the heart to the body parts. Among school-age kids and teens
hypertension is usually linked to obesity. Over weight is very common among school age children these days. In some cases it's due to a problem with the kidneys
although other conditions - like abnormalities in the blood vessels and hormonal disorders - can also be responsible. Some medications (such as steroids or oral contraceptives) can lead to high blood pressure
as can over consumption of alcohol and illegal drugs.

Diagnosing Hypertension in Children
As high blood pressure usually doesn't produce any symptoms
diagnosing the condition in children can be difficult. The only reliable way to find out if your kid has high blood pressure is to have it regularly measured at routine check ups. So it's important not to miss those appointments
particularly if your child is obese or if there's a family history of hypertension. There is also a new test called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in which a child wears a blood pressure cuff all day. Some consider it more accurate than blood pressure tests in the doctor's office because the child is less likely to be affected by any stress from visiting the doctor and blood pressure is monitored over a considerable period.

Treating High Blood Pressure
If an underlying illness is causing hypertension
treating that illness may be enough to get the blood pressure back to normal levels. For example treating coarctation of aorta can significantly improve blood pressure. If there's no underlying illness
your child's doctor will try to control Blood pressure with natural measures and he may recommend weight loss
increased intake of fruits and vegetables
decreased salt intake
increased exercise
and even relaxation techniques. Kids with hypertension should also quit or never start smoking
which can worsen the long-term associated heart problems as smoking is one of major risk factor for heart attack. Most doctors prefer not to prescribe medication for children with mild hypertension. However
in cases in which lifestyle changes do not improve the condition
then doctor may give medication .

Doing Exercise and participation in organized sports is encouraged for all children whose hypertension is not severe or is well-controlled. In fact
staying fit is the key to both weight and blood pressure control. If your kid is overweight
an ongoing weight-loss program monitored by your child's doctor and a minimum of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day may play very important role in controlling blood pressure. Kids who have severe hypertension should not
however
participate in weight- and power-lifting
bodybuilding
or strength training until their blood pressure is under control and a doctor OKs it.

Remember
earlier you get high blood pressure
earlier you will face its complications. So try to control your blood pressure with in normal limits to stay healthy and enjoy normal life.

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