the longer blood pressure remains high, the greater the risks to the heart and blood vessels in major organs, such as the brain and kidneys.
“We know that kids who have high blood pressure also tend to have it as adults,” says Tran, who co-authored the recent AHA report.
Research has long established a link between high blood pressure in adults and an increased risk for problems such as heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease. Thresholds for diagnosing high blood pressure are based on this data. In adults, blood pressure is considered high if systolic levels (the top number) are 130 mmHg or more or diastolic levels (the bottom number) are 80 mmHg or higher. Normal blood pressure in adults is less than 120/80 mmHg.
Until recently, data linking blood pressure levels to later cardiovascular events was lacking for children. But studies published over the past few years provide growing evidence that high blood pressure in childhood can cause cardiovascular harm within a few years and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Based on this data, the new AHA report defines high blood pressure for children 13 and older using the same thresholds as it does for adults.
“We now have evidence that children with hypertension have enlarged hearts and stiffer vessels,” Falkner adds. “There are signs that high blood pressure is having an adverse impact on the child.”
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Monitoring high blood pressure in children
For children under 13, hypertension is diagnosed if either systolic or diastolic blood pressure is at or above the 95th percentile, meaning 95 percent of other kids of the same age, sex and height have a lower blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is defined as being below the 90th percentile.
Taking blood pressure measurements in a child is done much the same as it is for an adult, Tran notes. The child should be seated in a quiet room, at rest for three to five minutes before a reading is taken. Their feet should be flat on the floor and their back supported. There should be no distractions, such as digital devices, and the child should not speak while a reading is being taken.
American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines call for an appropriately sized cuff to be placed on the bare skin of the right arm and supported so that the middle of the cuff is at heart level. Measurements should be taken on at least three different days, since readings can vary.
When measurements are higher than normal, the average should be calculated. Home and ambulatory blood pressure measurement devices may help confirm a diagnosis of hypertension.
As with adults, treatment for high blood pressure in children should begin with lifestyle changes, including getting regular physical activity and improving the diet, Tran says. “We recommend dietary changes such as eating more fruits and vegetables and reducing sodium.”
If blood pressure is confirmed to be very high or remains high despite lifestyle changes, medication may be needed, Tran notes.
By American Heart Association