High Blood Pressure in Children: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Is High Blood Pressure in Children?
• How High Blood Pressure Affects Children
• Obesity and High Blood Pressure in Children
• Treating High Blood Pressure in Children
• How to Help Your Child With High Blood Pressure

Most people think of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, as a condition that affects older people. But high blood pressure actually affects people of all ages — including young children.

Why is high blood pressure in children a growing problem? What can you do to protect your child from this threat? The first step is to learn all you can about high blood pressure in children, its causes, consequences, and treatment.

Blood pressure is the force of blood as it flows through the body’s vessels. Under normal conditions, the heart pumps blood through the vessels all over the body. The vessels widen and contract as needed to keep blood flowing well. In a person with hypertension, however, the blood pushes too hard against the blood vessels, which can cause damage to blood vessels, the heart, and other organs.

It’s easy for adults to tell if they have high blood pressure simply by having blood pressure checks and comparing the numbers to a simple chart. Children have the same tests; however, interpreting the numbers is trickier. Your child’s doctor will use charts based on your child’s sex, height, and blood pressure numbers to determine whether or not your child has high blood pressure.

As in adults, high blood pressure in children can result in serious, long-term health effects, including:

• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Stroke

Risk factors for high blood pressure in children include obesity and a family history of high blood pressure. Other risk factors may include medical problems such as hormonal abnormalities, narrowing of the aorta, sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.

Obesity is considered the primary risk for high blood pressure in children. Not only does being obese put your child at risk for high blood pressure, but also for a range of other health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

Researchers are still trying to determine the most effective way to treat high blood pressure in children. In general, treating high blood pressure in kids is not that different from treating it in adults. Work closely with your child’s doctor to find which treatment plan will work best for your child. Here are some general guidelines:

• Follow the DASH eating plan. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet plan includes eating less fat and saturated fat as well as eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and whole-grain foods. Limiting salt intake can also help lower a child’s blood pressure. A dietitian can help you and your child find ways to meet these goals without giving up favorite foods or great flavor.
• Watch your child’s weight. Being overweight increases the risk of developing high blood pressure. Following the DASH eating plan and getting regular exercise can help your child lose weight. Ask your child’s doctor to help set goals for losing weight. Your child’s doctor can also refer you to other health care professionals for assistance in setting up a weight-loss plan.
• Avoid tobacco smoke. Tobacco smoke can make blood pressure rise; it can also directly damage your child’s heart and blood vessels. Protect your child from tobacco smoke — even secondhand smoke.
• Taking medications. If your child’s high blood pressure is severe or doesn’t respond to lifestyle changes, your doctor may prescribe medication. It may take a while to find a combination of drugs that works best to control high blood pressure with the least side effects. Drugs used to treat high blood pressure include:
  1. Diuretics to reduce the amount of fluid in the blood by helping the body rid itself of extra sodium.
  2. ACE inhibitors, alpha-blockers, and calcium channel blockers help keep the blood vessels from tightening up.
  3. Beta-blockers prevent the body from making the hormone adrenaline. Adrenaline is a stress hormone. It makes the heart beat harder and faster. It also makes blood vessels tighten. All of this makes blood pressure higher.
• Treating the underlying cause of high blood pressure if one can be determined, including hormonal abnormalities, coarctation of the aorta, sleep apnea.or other sleep disorders.

Help your child control high blood pressure by following the doctor’s plan carefully. In addition, you can take these steps.

• Make changes to diet and exercise a family affair. Everyone in the family will benefit from these healthy changes.
• Make sure your child has their blood pressure checked as often as recommended by your child’s doctor.

By working with your health specialist to develop a comprehensive health plan, you can help your child control high blood pressure — and enjoy many healthy years ahead.

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Hypertension in Children | Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Blood pressure is the force of blood exerted against the walls of the arteries as the blood travels to all parts of the body. The heart’s pumping action creates blood pressure.

A certain amount of blood pressure is needed to get the blood to flow properly. Blood pressure varies throughout the day. It starts out lowest in the morning and as the day goes on, it gradually increases. Worry or anxiety, excitement and strenuous exercise can increase your normal blood pressure.

Understanding Blood Pressure Readings

There are two numbers to a blood pressure reading and both are important:

• The top number is the systolic blood pressure. It measures how hard the blood is hitting against the artery wall while the heart is contracting.
• The bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. It measures how hard the blood is hitting against the artery wall while the heart is relaxing between the beats.

Taking a Blood Pressure Reading

To check blood pressure, a cuff is placed around the arm. It is important for the cuff to fit the arm correctly. A stethoscope is placed on the skin below the cuff, over an artery.

• The cuff is pumped up with air so that it tightens on the arm. Then the air is slowly let out. Sounds are heard through the stethoscope as the blood pushes back through the arteries. The very first sound heard is the systolic blood pressure.
• When the sound disappears, this is the diastolic blood pressure.

Some blood pressure machines can detect these measurements automatically without the need for anyone to listen with a stethoscope.

Since blood pressure can be influenced by anxiety, time of day and other everyday factors, it is important to measure your blood pressure on a couple different days.

Normal Blood Pressure for a Child

The normal blood pressure measurement for a child depends on three factors: age, gender and height. At age 13, normal adult blood pressure measurements are used.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Those with high blood pressure have an excessive force of blood flow against the walls of their blood vessels. “Hypertension” means high blood pressure, or a blood pressure greater than the 95 percent for age, gender, and height.

All children with blood pressure over 120 / 80 need monitoring as they are at risk for developing hypertension (also known as elevated blood pressure). It typically takes more than one measurement to diagnose hypertension. However, if the blood pressure is severely high, a diagnosis may be made. A pattern of high blood pressure helps establish a diagnosis of hypertension.

The guidelines published by the government in 2017 recommended an echocardiogram (heart test) on all children before starting hypertension medicine due to the risk for organ damage.

Reasons for High Blood Pressure

Primary Hypertension

The most common reason for high blood pressure is the inherited (genetic) form known as primary hypertension. This accounts for the majority of cases with hypertension in both adults and children. The cause of primary hypertension is unknown. Children and adolescents with primary hypertension are often overweight.

Secondary Hypertension

The remaining cases with high blood pressure are due to an underlying cause, such as a kidney issues, narrowing of the arteries to the kidneys, a congenital defect of the heart such as coarctation of the aorta, or rare tumors of the adrenal gland. When there is another issue causing the high blood pressure, it is called secondary hypertension

Effects of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure increases the workload of the heart, since it must squeeze blood through the blood vessels against high pressure. When the heart must pump harder, the pumping chamber (left ventricle) of the heart may become enlarged and thickened.

If high blood pressure continues to go unnoticed or untreated, the left side of the heart can become progressively larger or thicker (left ventricular hypertrophy). This is one of the risk factors for developing coronary artery disease and possibly a heart attack.

If high blood pressure is not treated, it can also damage the arteries in the kidneys causing them to narrow and decrease the blood supply to the kidneys. The kidneys cannot function normally and this may result in kidney failure.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure over time can also harm the arteries that bring blood to the brain. Prolonged high blood pressure can cause the vessel walls to weaken and even possibly burst, causing bleeding in the brain (stroke). The opening of the artery may narrow or become blocked completely. In this case, blood is unable to get to the brain. This is another kind of stroke.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can also damage the eye by causing the arteries to narrow and twist, thus cutting off the blood supply. Eventually this can lead to vision problems.

It is important to remember that heart attacks, kidney failure and strokes from hypertension are uncommon in children and adolescents. However, the processes that lead to these problems probably do begin in childhood. This is why children and adolescents should have their blood pressure measured with routine healthcare visits.

Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

Hypertension is known as a silent killer because it usually has no signs and symptoms. Most patients with hypertension feel fine and do not know that their blood pressure is elevated.

When hypertension is severe or advanced, symptoms may include headache, fainting and loss of kidney function. In late stages, convulsions may occur.

Treatment for High Blood Pressure

If blood pressure is high, measuring it again is important. If the blood pressure remains high, we recommend the following changes:

1. Achieving the proper weight through diet and exercise for patients who are overweight
2. Cutting down on salt in the diet

Nutrition labels list sodium content in milligrams (mg).

Americans typically take in 5,000 to 8,000 mg of sodium per day. If blood pressure is high, it is best to reduce sodium intake to 2,000-3,000 mg / day. A teaspoon of salt has 2,196 mg of sodium. The major sources of sodium in your diet are:

• Salt added to food during cooking and at the table
• Sodium added to food during processing (hidden salt)
• Sodium which naturally occurs in food and water

To reduce sodium in your diet, remove the salt shaker from the table and avoid adding it during meal preparation. Herbs and spices can be a tasty alternative. In addition, limit the amount of processed foods your family eats.

Processed lunch meats, bacon, sausage, cheese, convenience foods and most canned foods are high in sodium. Many snack foods, including crackers, chips and baked goods, are also high in sodium.

Some sodium occurs naturally in foods, such as meats, poultry, seafood and dairy products, as well as minimal amounts in fresh vegetables and fruits. These do not need to be limited.

Look at the labels! Try to balance out the sodium in your family’s meals and snacks. When eating out, avoid sauces and ask the server to prepare your meal without salt.

Certain types of restaurants, including Asian and Mexican restaurants, are particularly high in sodium, but will usually change your food to meet your needs.

Avoiding smoking, excessive caffeine, and a lot of alcohol are other lifestyle changes that may help decrease blood pressure.

When all else fails or if blood pressure is moderate to severe, then antihypertensive medication may be used.

Long-Term Outlook

Children do not usually suffer the life-threatening cardiovascular effects of high blood pressure. The negative effects of hypertension usually develop over many years. Finding it early allows us to find the appropriate ways to address it and lower the blood pressure.

Pressure in children and adolescents: norm, causes, increased, decreased

Contents:

• How to measure blood pressure in a child?
• Table of normal blood pressure in a child
• Symptoms of low and high blood pressure in a child
• How often should children have their blood pressure taken
• Causes of high blood pressure in children
• What to do if your child has high blood pressure
• Causes of low blood pressure in children
• What to do if your child has low blood pressure

It is important not only for adults to measure blood pressure to normalize it: one should also know what the normal blood pressure is in children in order to stabilize it if necessary. Of course, problems with blood pressure in children are a phenomenon that is much less common than in adults. However, they are not rare either. First of all, it is important to know what are the norms of blood pressure by age group in children. Also, like most indicators in the body of each of us, the upper and lower pressure values ​​\u200b\u200bhave their own maximum and minimum. It is important to recognize a violation in a child in order to take appropriate measures in a timely manner: the pathology should in no way affect the child’s health in the future. Adults need to know how to measure blood pressure in a child?

How to measure a child’s blood pressure correctly?

First you need to understand what pressure is normal directly for your child – by age and gender (for this, we provide the corresponding table in the following paragraph).

To measure the pressure, of course, you need a tonometer. And most importantly, without which you can not do for the correct measurements of blood pressure – a children’s cuff. The mechanical device has d children’s cuffs from seven centimeters. The size of the integral part of the tonometer should correspond to the circumference of the child’s upper limb at the location of the cuff (measurements are made using a measuring tape).

For electronic blood pressure monitors, only one cuff for children is provided, d of which is within 15 – 22 centimeters.

Before taking blood pressure in children, you need to prepare a little. For this, the child is seated: he needs to rest calmly for about five minutes. After that, a cuff is put on the child’s shoulder (attention: the arm is freed from clothing). It is important to make sure that the above part of the tonometer fits tightly to the hand. During the measurement process, the child should not move or talk. He puts his cuffed hand on the table and leans on the back of a chair or chair.

Measurement of blood pressure in the upper limbs is performed three times: the interval should be up to three minutes. Then the average value is calculated, compared with the one that is considered recommended.

Now we will directly find out what pressure the child should have. The corresponding table will help to understand.

Table of normal blood pressure in a child

Here is a table – pressure in children is the norm by age:

It should be noted: up to five years in children, the blood pressure level is not dependent on gender differences. And six to nine years is the period when the norm of pressure in boys is two to five mm Hg more. Art., than in girls.

And vice versa happens when children reach the age of nine or twelve. In this case, the normal pressure in girls becomes slightly higher than in boys. This trend is observed in connection with the menstrual cycle in girls.

Symptoms of low and high blood pressure in a child

Dizziness, headaches, nosebleeds, decreased visual acuity, sleep problems, nausea and vomiting, fainting spells for a short time – these signs may indicate that the child has high blood pressure.

The signs of childhood hypotension are the following complaints:

• fatigue under dynamic, static loads;
• apathy, tearfulness, capriciousness;
• pressing, throbbing or paroxysmal headaches in the morning, localized in the region of the crown or occiput;
• decreased efficiency, concentration;
• malaise, weakness, which can be provoked by weather conditions, emotional stress.

It is not uncommon for a child with low blood pressure to display groundless fears and high anxiety. He can be suspicious, quick-tempered and pessimistic. Fainting, dizziness, dizziness and blackouts with falls in the street, lessons, etc. are also not uncommon.

Vegetative-vascular crises can also be frequent, when the child’s condition deteriorates sharply, tinnitus appears. Also possible: palpitations, blanching, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen. Muscle and joint pains are often noted. Localization of pain in this case is different and is not constant.

Also, with hypotension in children, nosebleeds can occur, constant lethargy, low activity are manifested. In general, manifestations can be either severe – with crises, fainting, or lighter, when emotional reactions predominate.

Today, the problem of childhood hypotension is more common than before. Evidence even suggests that these conditions are less common in adults than in children. And unfortunately, this problem also applies to newborns.

How often do children need to have their blood pressure measured?

It is important to understand that many factors affect blood pressure in both adults and children. It’s the weather and the mood. Also important is the general state of health, diet, the presence or absence of physical activity. In addition, pressure cannot always be constant: it changes.

It is for the purpose of controlling normal blood pressure in children, in order to avoid corresponding violations, it is recommended to measure blood pressure from time to time. Parents must always keep a diary of blood pressure control, where to make notes on the readings of the pressure of the child.

If the increase was one-time, and even more so when it turns out to be not a single case, for control purposes, it is recommended to measure blood pressure two or three times during the day while sitting, at rest. The child also needs to measure blood pressure with the above characteristic complaints. Moreover, measurements should be taken at the same hours.

Causes of high blood pressure in children

Among the causes of high blood pressure in children is called the systematic effects of stress. Children’s arterial hypertension is often provoked by diseases of the kidneys and the nervous system.

Often the pressure in children increases with heart defects, respiratory organs, blood vessels, hereditary syndromes.

What to do if the child has high blood pressure

When the blood pressure readings are far from the normal pressure in a teenager, a younger child, and these values ​​exceed the normal values, keep at this level for a long period, you should consult a doctor.

It is important to examine the child to assess damage to other organs. They do standard tests, ECHOCG, ECG, examine the fundus, monitor blood pressure during the day, perform ultrasound of the kidneys, and so on.

Based on the results of examinations, the doctor prescribes treatment, recommends monitoring the child’s blood pressure.

If there is a hypertensive crisis, the child’s condition worsens, an ambulance should be called. Self-administration of medications is not recommended if the doctor has not previously prescribed them: the child’s condition may worsen if the dosage of the medication is selected incorrectly.

In general, if a child’s blood pressure is elevated, it is recommended, first of all, to normalize his lifestyle. Also important:

• restriction of activities with gadgets – up to forty minutes a day;

• systematic physical activity – running, walking in the fresh air, swimming, others – for half an hour or an hour a day;

• healthy sleep (eight to ten hours).

It is necessary to normalize the weight of the child, if it is excessive, to provide the child with proper nutrition (reduce light carbohydrates in the diet, use salt).

In the event that a child has elevated blood pressure, the dose of exercise should be reduced for him if it is excessive. It is important. Properly conducted physical education and sports contribute to the normalization of blood pressure in cases of its increase. Correction of the situation in the case of hypotension is also not excluded.

Causes of low blood pressure in children

Often children experience a decrease in blood pressure when it becomes below the norm – by twenty percent or more.

Typically, childhood hypotension is idiopathic. This means that the reasons for it are not clear. Nevertheless, there are a number of factors that are called predisposing to it:

• body type of asthenic type in a child, thinness;

• poor heredity with this disease in close relatives;

• puberty;

• trauma during childbirth or complicated pregnancy in the mother;

• lack of exercise;

• frequent emotional shocks, when stress in a child is a systematic phenomenon;

• sleep disorder;

• bad diet.

It should be understood that in certain cases, hypotension may be a sign of specific diseases. These include:

It is not uncommon when the cause of hypotension is incipient diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, peptic ulcer. It happens that low blood pressure is a symptom of kidney disease, neurosis, a consequence of taking food supplements, drugs, damage to the spinal cord, brain.

What to do if a child has low blood pressure

Quite often normal pressure in a teenager, a younger child becomes the number one task for parents. So, if a child has low blood pressure, first of all, they consult a doctor. What is required to make a diagnosis? This is:

• study of heredity, life history, medical histories, course of pregnancy in the mother;

• consultations of specialists of a narrow focus – neurologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, others;

• performing autonomic tests, ECG, cardiac ultrasound, etc.

In addition, laboratory diagnostics are carried out: they pass standard tests, as well as for latent infections.

A special role in the treatment of childhood hypotension is played by non-drug interventions, which provide almost 50 percent of success in therapy. The non-drug method implies the strict observance of the daily routine, the rigor of following it: weekends and holidays are no exception. Ideally, a child’s sleep should last up to ten hours, daytime rest is also necessary. The position of the headboard is required to provide the child with an elevated position.

Comprehensive morning exercises should become mandatory. We must not forget about the need for moderate physical activity. A doctor often prescribes a therapeutic massage for a child.

In the treatment of childhood hypotension, adaptogens with the effect of toning, stimulation are taken. Can also be used (only as prescribed by the doctor) and nootropic type drugs. Shown to the child – herbal medicine, complexes with minerals and vitamins.

Low blood pressure in a child and teenager, what should I do?

Contents

• Which blood pressure is considered low?
• Causes
• What to do if the pressure is low?
• If blood pressure is low and pulse is high
• Useful video
• Conclusion

Schoolchildren often complain of a general state of weakness, headaches. They get dizzy. Most often, these symptoms indicate a decrease in blood pressure.

Such complaints of a child cannot be ignored, because low blood pressure in a teenager can lead to serious health complications. Therefore, it is important to find the cause of such a pathology and choose the most effective method of its treatment.

What kind of blood pressure is considered low?

Blood pressure (BP) is divided into “upper” and “lower”. At each age, it has different indicators. In newborns, the body is small and the size of the heart is also small, therefore, the pressure indicators are much lower, because their value directly depends on the strength of cardiac output. Most often, low blood pressure in adolescents occurs during puberty.

In a preschooler

In preschool children, the upper blood pressure norms are:

• newborns: 60–70;
• 2 months-1 year: 70-90;
• 2-3 years: 90-100;
• 3-5 years: 95-100.

In preschool children, the norms of lower blood pressure are:

• newborns: 30–50;
• 2 months-1 year: 40-60;
• 2-3 years: 60-70;
• 3-5 years: 65-70.

In schoolchildren

In schoolchildren, the norms of upper blood pressure are:

• 6–8 years old: 100–105;
• 9-11 years old: 105-110;
• 12-14 years old: 105-115;
• 15-17 years: 110-120.

High blood pressure norms for schoolchildren are:

• 6–8 years: 60–70;
• 9-11 years: 65-75;
• 12-14 years: 65-75;
• 15-17 years: 70-80.

If blood pressure values ​​are below the specified limits, then they are considered low and correspond to hypotension.

Norms of blood pressure and pulse in children

Causes

Low blood pressure in a child is classified as physiological or pathological. Physiological decrease in blood pressure does not lead to poor health and usually occurs with fatigue, prolonged exposure to a hot room and other situations. Also, physiological low blood pressure occurs:

• in children living in regions where atmospheric pressure is low;
• during climate change to tropical or alpine;
• due to heredity;
• in children who are involved in active sports (outside of training).

Pathological manifestations of low blood pressure can be both reversible and persistent. Hypotension can be primary or secondary.

Its manifestation can be provoked by:

• hereditary predisposition;
• birth injury;
• chronic infectious diseases;
• stress and psychological overload;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• no day mode;
• frequent respiratory problems.

Symptoms of this type of hypotension are general weakness, dizziness, emotional instability, headaches and fatigue. Such children often sweat, are prone to various rashes, they almost always have cool, wet palms.

Orthostatic type of hypertension mainly manifests itself in moments of prolonged standing in a vertical position, as well as when moving from a lying position to a sitting or standing position. Symptoms may include nausea, blackouts, fainting.

Secondary hypotension occurs due to the course of a certain disease. It is only its manifestation: if the underlying disease ceases to exist, then, most likely, the problem with pressure will also disappear.

Primary diseases may be:

• metabolic disorders;
• heart disease;
• diabetes mellitus;
• anemia.

Also, low blood pressure in a 10-year-old child may occur due to intoxication, hypovitaminosis, allergies, weight deficiency, blood loss and traumatic brain injury.

If a child has low blood pressure, what to do can be understood only after a complete examination and identification or exclusion of the underlying disease.

What if the pressure is low?

To identify what caused low blood pressure in a 15-year-old teenager, the following diagnostic methods are used:

• measure blood pressure 3 times a day for 2 weeks;
• the patient and his parents are asked about the diseases he has suffered, the presence of hereditary problems with pressure, the symptoms and complaints that are present at the moment;
• external examination;
• examination: rheoencephalogram, ECG, blood and urine tests, fundus examination.

If a child has low blood pressure, specialists such as a neurologist, cardiologist, gynecologist, otolaryngologist and endocrinologist can tell you what to do. Their consultation is mandatory.

In the event that hypotension is found to be secondary, it is important to begin intensive treatment of the underlying disease and at the same time monitor whether the pressure stabilizes. If low blood pressure is not provoked by any other diseases, then a whole range of measures for the treatment and rehabilitation of children is being developed.

In a child

If a child of 7 years old has low blood pressure and the reasons for this are not found, then the initial treatment measures will consist of general strengthening actions:

• walks in the fresh air;
• compliance with the correct daily routine;
• active sports activities;
• timely full sleep;
• balanced rational nutrition;
• massage;
• contrast shower;
• phytotherapy.

If a child aged 8 years and above has low blood pressure, these methods of solving the problem do not help, then medication may be recommended.

When a child has low blood pressure and headaches, some parents limit themselves to giving him Citramon. However, this should not be done without consulting a doctor, because a medicine that is safe at first glance, which will relieve pain and raise pressure, may not help, but only harm. Citramon should not be taken by children under 12 years of age. If a teenager has low blood pressure, then this drug can be given in accordance with the instructions.

In a teenager

When a child of 12 years of age has low blood pressure, the treatment method is similar to that indicated for young children. Unless a wider range of drugs can be prescribed.

If blood pressure is low and pulse is high

If blood pressure is simply low in adolescence, it is most likely due to age and by adulthood everything is normal. But if a child has low blood pressure and a high pulse, then you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. This may indicate that either severe dehydration has occurred, or that there are problems with the heart. This combination of blood pressure and pulse can be observed with supraventricular tachycardia.

Not everyone knows what to do if a teenager’s low blood pressure is combined with an increased pulse. It is necessary to put the patient in a horizontal position and let him lie down for about 30 minutes. If the condition does not normalize, then call an ambulance, and if the pulse returns to normal, then you still need to consult with specialists and be examined.

Useful video

Useful information about blood pressure in children can be found in the following video:

Conclusion

1. Children’s health always depends entirely on their parents. An attentive mother will easily notice low blood pressure in a 15-year-old teenager or in a child of a different age. This condition of the child is accompanied by memory impairment, headaches, lethargy, drowsiness and weakness.
2. If such symptoms appear and a teenager has low blood pressure, only a doctor can tell what to do in each specific case. Even if the alarm is false, the examination will simply show that everything is in order with health.