How can hypertension affect children

Arch Intern Med. Flynn JT. Differentiation between primary and secondary hypertension in children using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Evaluation and management of hypertension in childhood. Prog Pediatr Cardiol. Childhood hypertension. An update on etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Pediatr Clin North Am. Hypertension in adolescents. Adolesc Med Clin. The relation of overweight to cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Left ventricular geometry and severe left ventricular hypertrophy in children and adolescents with essential hypertension.

Left ventricular structure and function in obese adolescents: relations to cardiovascular fitness, percent body fat, and visceral adiposity, and effects of physical training. Effects of potassium supplementation on office, home, and h blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.

Effect of calcium supplementation on blood pressure in children. This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.

Contact afpserv aafp. Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions. Read the Issue. Sign Up Now. Next: Managing Opioid Addiction with Buprenorphine. May 1, Issue. Hypertension in Children and Adolescents.

C 7 Three separate readings of an elevated blood pressure greater than 90th percentile for age, height, and sex on separate visits are needed to make the diagnosis of hypertension.

C 7 Patients diagnosed with primary hypertension should have a comprehensive assessment for cardiovascular risk factors lipid profile, fasting glucose, body mass index. C 7 Nonpharmacologic treatment e. C 7 Pharmacologic treatment should be initiated in patients with stage 2 hypertension, symptomatic hypertension, when end-organ damage is present left ventricular hypertrophy, retinopathy, proteinuria ; and in stage 1 hypertension when blood pressure is unresponsive to lifestyle changes.

Appendix 1. Blood Pressure Levels for Boys by Age and Height Percentile The rightsholder did not grant rights to reproduce this item in electronic media. Appendix 2. Blood Pressure Levels for Girls by Age and Height Percentile The rightsholder did not grant rights to reproduce this item in electronic media. Figure 1. Blood pressure cuff showing size estimation based on arm circumference. Figure 2. TABLE 3 Causes of Childhood Hypertension According to Age Group Age Causes One to six years Renal parenchymal disease; renal vascular disease; endocrine causes; coarctation of the aorta; essential hypertension Six to 12 years Renal parenchymal disease; essential hypertension; renal vascular disease; endocrine causes; coarctation of the aorta; iatrogenic illness 12 to 18 years Essential hypertension; iatrogenic illness; renal parenchymal disease; renal vascular disease; endocrine causes; coarctation of the aorta note: Causes listed in order of prevalence.

Management of Childhood Hypertension The rightsholder did not grant rights to reproduce this item in electronic media. Figure 3. Read the full article. Get immediate access, anytime, anywhere. Choose a single article, issue, or full-access subscription. Earn up to 6 CME credits per issue. Purchase Access: See My Options close. Best Value! To see the full article, log in or purchase access. More in Pubmed Citation Related Articles. Email Alerts Don't miss a single issue. Sign up for the free AFP email table of contents.

Navigate this Article. Renal artery stenosis. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Sleep disorder associated with hypertension. Decreased perfusion of lower extremities. Coarctation of the aorta. Chronic renal failure. Systemic lupus erythematosus. Association with primary hypertension. Obesity of the face, neck, or trunk. Hyperthyroidism; pheochromocytoma; neuroblastoma. Family history. Cardiovascular disease e.

Congenital or familial renal disease. Endocrine problems e. Familial endocrinopathies. Child's history. Cardiovascular disease. Diaphoresis abnormal. Renovascular disease, renal scarring.

Heat or cold intolerance. Joint pain or swelling. Rheumatologic disorders. Snoring or other sleep problems. Umbilical artery catheterization. Urinary tract infections recurrent. Weight or appetite changes. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview High blood pressure hypertension in children is blood pressure that is at or above the 95th percentile for children who are the same sex, age and height as your child.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Bakris GL, et al. Hypertension in children. Elsevier; Accessed May 12, Mattoo TK. Definition and diagnosis of hypertension in children and adolescents. Guzman-Limon M, et al. Pediatric hypertension: Diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.

Pediatric Clinics of America. Evaluation of hypertension in children and adolescents. Flynn JT, et al. Clinical practice guideline for screening and management of high blood pressure in children and adolescents. Saunders TJ, et al. Screen time and health indicators among children and youth: Current evidence, limitations and future directions.

If a child has a health condition that increases their risk for high blood pressure, such as obesity or kidney disease , their blood pressure will be checked at every doctor visit. If a child's blood pressure is high at a well-child visit, their blood pressure will also be checked more frequently.

Your child's pediatrician will track trends in blood pressure over time, not just the initial screening, to accurately identify a diagnosis of hypertension. There isn't one single number or blood pressure that is considered normal for all children.

A healthy blood pressure for a child depends on their age, height and gender. For children under the age of 13, your pediatrician will use a percentile chart to compare your child's blood pressure to peers of the same age, height and gender. This allows a more precise indication if a young child is showing high blood pressure.

A child is considered to have an elevated blood pressure if their blood pressure falls above the 90th percentile, and hypertension if they are above the 95th percentile. Over the age of 13, normal blood pressure ranges are the same for teenagers as they are for adults:. If your child's pediatrician notices a trend of high blood pressure readings, they will closely monitor your child's blood pressure or refer you to a specialist to address any health concerns. They may have your child wear a hour, portable blood pressure monitoring device called an ambulatory blood pressure monitor or ABPM.

This can be worn at home during your child's normal routine and takes measurements every 20 to 30 minutes during the daytime and 30 to 60 minutes at night. This monitor can help your child's pediatrician decide whether your child needs further tests or treatment by giving a complete picture of blood pressure throughout the day and night.

Hypertension is often a silent condition. Typically, there aren't obvious symptoms to let parents know their child has high blood pressure; it is often diagnosed when the doctor discovers it during an exam. This is why regular blood pressure screening is so important.