Hypertension is becoming a growing health concern all over the world. According to World Health Organization, hypertension is one of the most important causes of premature death. Maximum people think that hypertension only affects adults. But sadly this is not the truth anymore. Today hypertension is becoming more and more common in children. As in adults,hypertension in young children can also lead to life-threatening diseases, including:
- Kidney disease
- Heart disease
- Stroke
Hypertension in young children has become a growing health concern all over the world. It has been estimated that 30% of children suffering from obesity already have hypertension or will soon have it. If this disease is left untreated, it may have deadly consequences in the future. Hence, hypertension should be treated immediately.
The most common cause of hypertension in children is obesity. In this modern generation, most of the children lead a sedentary life. They spend more time indoor- either by watching television or by playing computer games. This is the main cause of obesity in children. Regular physical exercise is crucial to healthy growth and development. Apart from this, uncontrolled factors like heart or kidney disease may also contribute to high blood pressure in children.
Hypertension in children can be treated with a slight change in the lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy balanced diet is very important for treating hypertension in children. Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables can be beneficiary for treating high blood pressure. Apart from this, engaging in some sort of physical exercise is also very important for lowering blood pressure naturally and quickly.
Symptoms of Hypertension in Children
Most often, hypertension causes no noticeable discomfort. When hypertension is in advanced, it may show the following symptoms.
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Visual disturbances
- Fainting
- Chest pain
- Confusion & disorientation
If your children experience any of these symptoms, you must seek medical attention right away. In any case, it should not be left untreated or else it may lead to more serious health problems.
Complications of High Blood Pressure
Sleep apnea is the most common complication associated with high blood pressure in children. It is a sleeping disorder that causes breathing problem while sleeping. In this disease, one can have pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while sleeping and disrupt sleep. This sleeping disorder occurs more in overweight or obese children. It increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.
Apart from this sleeping disorder, children with hypertension are more likely to have kidney diseases, stroke or heart attack.
Prevention
It is necessary to detect hypertension as early as possible. Uncontrolled long- standing hypertension can lead to organ damage. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is critical for the prevention of high blood pressure in children.
8 top key ways to prevent high blood pressure are as follows:
- Having a balanced diet, this includes fresh fruits and vegetables
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
- Engaging in regular physical exercise
- Managing stress
Managing and controlling high blood pressure is a necessity and it should not be taken lightly. All children over 3 years old should have their blood pressure routinely checked. If hypertension is detected, it should be taken seriously and immediate measures should be taken to avoid future complications.