Media inquiries: (434) 924-5679

U.VA. HEALTH SYSTEM OFFERS TIPS ON HOW TO PREVENT HYPERTENSION IN CHILDREN

There are many things that children need in preparation for back to school: pens, pencils, crayons and clothes. One more thing to add to that list is getting their children checked for hypertension. Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the heart is working to pump blood through the body. Hypertension is blood pressure that is greater than normal. Children of all ages can develop hypertension and show no signs of the illness. Hypertension in children is often the result of obesity, a family history of the illness or sometimes stress. Children as young as three should have their blood pressure checked annually. Certain high school athletes, like football players, especially should get checked. In the meantime here are ways that hypertension can be managed:

  • Weight reduction. If weight is a problem, losing ten to 20 pounds can make a big difference.

  • Staying active. Physical inactivity is associated with hypertension in grade school children.

  • Eating a proper diet. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, reduce fat intake and avoid salt. Foods rich in potassium have been linked to reducing hypertension.

  • Don't Smoke. Smoking contributes to hypertension.

When parents take their children to be checked for hypertension, they should make sure that the cuff used to measure blood pressure is the appropriate size, said Dr. Margaret Gutgesell, pediatrician at the University of Virginia Health System. An improper fit can affect the accuracy of the results.

August 24, 2001