Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Hypertension (high blood pressure) can cause damage to the arteries and organs over time and is one of the most common causes of heart and kidney disease at an older age.
What Is Pediatric Hypertension?
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure.
Blood pressure is created when the heart pumps blood through the body.
Hypertension can cause damage to the arteries and organs over time and is one of the most common causes of heart and kidney disease at an older age.
It is estimated that about 3-4% of children have hypertension. This rate is higher in specific populations such as children with kidney diseases, excess weight gain and on certain medications.
What Are the Symptoms of Hypertension?
Mild to moderate degree of hypertension is often asymptomatic (having no symptoms) or associated with mild and vague symptoms such as fatigue, headache, poor sleeping and changes in school performance.
In severe hypertension cases, serious symptoms such as vomiting, severe headache, or even seizures will occur.
How Is Pediatric Hypertension Diagnosed?
Hypertension is diagnosed when manual arm blood pressure is elevated for age, height, and sex reference range on multiple checks.
Hypertension can also be diagnosed with the use of a blood pressure monitor, which provides a 24-hour profile of blood pressure. This is often more accurate than using only manual checks.
How Is Pediatric Hypertension Managed?
Pediatric Hypertension is managed by:
- Evaluation by providers trained in caring for children and adolescents with hypertension
- Testing (such as 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, lab tests and imaging through Radiology)
- Medicine to help control hypertension
- Education and support from nurses and dietitians
- Access to new treatments as they become available
