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How is high blood pressure diagnosed? High blood pressure is diagnosed by a doctor or nurse using a simple and painless test. An inflatable cuff is placed around your upper arm and attached to a pressure gauge (See photograph below). As the cuff deflates, the doctor can measure your blood pressure using a stethoscope. Blood pressure is usually measured when you are sitting or lying down and relaxed. Ways to prepare yourself before you have your blood pressure measured are provided below. Most doctors will check your blood pressure several times on different days before deciding that you have high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or higher over time, your doctor will likely diagnose you with HBP. If you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, a blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg or higher is considered HBP. High blood pressure (HBP) in children is relatively uncommon as compared to adults. Triggers of HBP in Children It is observed that overweight children are predisposed to elevated blood pressure. In today's times, children are more interested in sitting in front of the computer and television sets than playing outdoor games. This only contributes to sedentary living, thereby elevating their chances of weight gain and obesity. Surprisingly, kids with healthy weight also suffer from hypertension. What could be the underlying cause? It is observed that hypertension in children is often associated with poor functioning of certain organs. Kidney Disorders Kidneys not working properly can raise the blood pressure in children. The kidneys are assigned the task of filtering blood to remove the fluid (urine) from the body. However, in case the kidneys are inefficient in doing their function correctly, it is difficult for the body to maintain a steady blood pressure. Also, the kidneys have control over the veins and the arteries that transport blood to it. For instance, the kidneys can stimulate these blood vessels to become narrow, which can also cause hypertension in children. Renal Artery Stenosis The renal artery connects the heart to the kidneys. Thus, blood transmission from the heart to the kidneys occurs through the renal artery. The renal artery carries approximately 1.5 liters of blood to the kidneys for filtration, hence these arteries are considered as a major source of blood supply to the kidneys. When the arteries become narrow, blood pressure is bound to increase. Narrowing of arteries means the diameter of these blood vessels decreases. In such circumstances, the blood has to squeeze itself to pass through the arteries, thereby exerting considerable amount of pressure on the arterial wall. Heart Problems The main task of the heart is to collect fresh oxygenated blood from the lungs and deliver it to different parts of the body. When the heart beats, its pumping action pushes the blood with a constant force, known as blood pressure. Thus, one can understand how important it is for the heart to function properly in order to regulate blood pressure. Children diagnosed with congenital heart defects may develop high blood pressure. Abnormality in the heart's structure existing at the time of birth or one can say a poorly developed heart, which may lead to high blood pressure. The baby might not show any high blood pressure symptoms immediately after birth but sooner or later hypertension problems are likely to erupt. Malfunctioning of the Adrenal Gland The adrenal gland lies exactly above the kidneys and its normal working is very important to maintain blood pressure. The adrenal gland produces a number of hormones including aldosterone that helps to regulate blood pressure. However, when the adrenal gland is not performing its function in the right way, it can cause excess secretion of aldosterone, eventually raising the blood pressure. Aldosterone keeps a check on the amount of sodium and potassium eliminated by the kidneys. In the presence of surplus aldosterone, the kidneys remove more potassium as compared to sodium and chloride. This eventually causes low potassium and excess sodium (salt) in the body, which can contribute in increasing blood pressure. Development of tumors in the adrenal gland could be one of the possible reasons behind abnormally high production of aldosterone. High Cholesterol Levels Children with high cholesterol also have a higher chance of developing HBP than their peers with healthy cholesterol. This is because too much cholesterol can cause arterial constriction (narrowing of arteries). In such a scenario, arterial wall experiences more pressure when the blood is traveling through these blood vessels. Mismanagement of Diabetes Type 2 diabetes in children also increases the risk of high blood pressure. Diabetes is nothing but the presence of exceptionally high sugar levels in the blood. Too much sugar in the blood can damage the arteries. The arterial wall becomes stiff and thick, thereby minimizing the diameter of the arteries. This reduced dimension of arteries puts extra pressure on the arterial wall during blood transmission. Thus, uncontrolled diabetes may lead to elevated blood pressure in children. Usually, following healthy lifestyle modifications is enough to control mild HBP. However, if that does not work, then medication like diuretics (to improve the kidneys' performance) and other drugs like Benaepril can help to combat HBP in children. One can understand that the correct diagnosis followed by proper treatment with hypertension medication, is the solution to control hypertension in children. Be it diabetes or high cholesterol, we as a parent need to take all the necessary steps to keep our kid's medical problem under control. This will ensure that our children grow up healthily and lead a happy, fulfilling life despite having hypertension. The ranges for normal blood pressure and HBP are generally lower for youth than for adults. These ranges are based on the average blood pressure numbers for age, gender, and height. To find out whether a child has HBP, a doctor will compare the child's blood pressure numbers to average numbers for his or her age, height, and gender. Can children get high blood pressure? We usually think of high blood pressure, or hypertension, as a problem that affects adults. But, in fact, this condition can be present at any age, even in infancy. About five of every hundred children have higher than normal blood pressure, although fewer than one in a hundred has medically significant hypertension. How blood pressure is measured The term blood pressure actually refers to two separate measurements: •systolic blood pressure is the highest pressure reached in the arteries as the heart pumps blood out for circulation through the body •diastolic blood pressure is the much lower pressure that occurs in the arteries when the heart relaxes to take blood in between beats If either or both of these measurements are above the range found in healthy people of the same age and sex, it’s called hypertension. Is a blood pressure reading always the same?Blood pressure can be affected by many factors, including the following:
Before determining that your child has high blood pressure, a physician or nurse will take several readings when your child is calm and you are present to comfort him/her, if needed. The staff may let some time lapse before retaking a blood pressure reading, to make sure your child has rested and has become calm. More meaningful blood pressure readings can be obtained this way. When is the blood pressure too high?Blood pressures vary depending on the age of your child, as well as according to height and weight, and the gender of your child. Generally, blood pressure is low in infancy, and rises slowly as children age. Boys' blood pressures are slightly higher than girls' are, and taller people generally have higher blood pressures than short people do.For example, an infant may have a quite normal blood pressure of 80/45 mm Hg, while that value in an adult is considered low. A teenager may have an acceptable blood pressure of 110/70 mm Hg, but that value would be of concern in a toddler. What is considered "normal" blood pressure in children? When it comes to blood pressure in children, "normal" is relative. It depends on three factors: •Gender •Age •Height Your child's doctor can tell you what's right for your child, because "normal" is a complicated calculation based on these factors. What is the lower limit of normal systolic blood pressure in a newborn, infant, toddler, preschooler, school age child, and adolescent? Lower Limit of Normal Systolic BP Newborn Infant (<1 yr) >60 Or Strong Pulses Toddler (1-3yr) >70 Or Strong Pulses Preschooler (4-5yr) >75 School age child (6-12yr) >80 Adolescent (13-18yr) >90 |