Hypertension
What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. Most people associate high blood pressure with getting older, so it may seem odd that teens can have the condition. Although high blood pressure is rare in young people (only about 1% to 3% of kids in the United States have hypertension), it's important to check for it - even babies can have high blood pressure! Almost 60 million Americans age 6 and older have high blood pressure. That means about one in five Americans has the condition. Because a third to a half of the people who have high blood pressure don't even know it, doctors are careful to check their patients for hypertension regularly. Blood pressure of less than 120 over 80 is considered a normal reading for people 18 and over.
A borderline high systolic pressure of 120 to 139 or a diastolic pressure of 80 to 89 needs to be closely monitored. A blood pressure reading equal to or greater than 140 over 90 is considered high in people over the age of 18. Because of the way blood pressure readings are calculated for children and teens, readings that doctors consider high in teens can be lower than the blood pressure readings that are considered high in adults. In teens up to age 18, high blood pressure is defined as a blood pressure greater than the 95th percentile for their age, height, and gender (in other words, 95% of kids at the same age, height, and gender will have blood pressure below this number). Measurements between 90% to 95% of the expected range are considered high-normal or borderline. Teens with blood pressure readings that are greater than 90% of the expected range are three times more likely than those with average readings to develop high blood pressure as adults.
A doctor will average at least three blood pressure measurements taken at different times before determining that a teen has hypertension. Most teens will have their blood pressure checked during an annual physical exam. Doctors recommend that older teens with normal blood pressure get their blood pressure checked at least every 2 years. If your blood pressure is near the top of the normal range or if you have a family history of high blood pressure, you're at a higher risk for developing hypertension. Your doctor can advise you as to how often you should have your blood pressure checked in this situation.
Symptoms
Usually, no symptoms are present. Occasionally, you may experience a mild headache. If your headache is severe, or if you experience any of the symptoms below, you must be seen by a doctor right away. These may be a sign of dangerously high blood pressure (called malignant hypertension) or a complication from high blood pressure.
- Tiredness
- Confusion
- Vision changes
- Angina-like chest pain (crushing chest pain)
- Heart failure
- Blood in urine
- Nosebleed
- Irregular heartbeat
- Ear noise or buzzing
The cause of high blood pressure often cannot be found in many teens with hypertension. When the cause is unknown, a person has what's called essential or primary hypertension. In cases where the cause of high blood pressure is known (called secondary hypertension), it is usually the result of kidney problems, hormonal disorders, abnormalities of the aorta (the main artery that carries oxygenated blood to the body), or a narrowing of certain smaller arteries. Most teens who are diagnosed with hypertension have essential hypertension. Some teens may inherit the tendency toward higher blood pressure from one or both parents.
Although hypertension often runs in families, some people with a strong family history of high blood pressure may never develop it. Kids and teens who are obese are at a higher risk for hypertension. Lack of exercise makes it easier to become overweight and increases the chance of high blood pressure. People who drink heavily or take illegal drugs like amphetamines and cocaine are also at risk of developing the condition. In some cases, medications like steroids or birth control pills can cause high blood pressure. Pregnant women also may be diagnosed with hypertension. This type of hypertension is known as preeclampsia (pronounced: pree-ih-klamp-see-uh), or toxemia. It's uncommon, though: Only about 6% to 8% of pregnant women get this condition.
How Is Hypertension Treated?
Hypertension can be a temporary or lifelong disease, depending on the cause. Regardless of what causes high blood pressure, the important thing is to keep it under control. People who manage their high blood pressure with a treatment program lower their risk of having serious complications as they get older. Although in some cases medication may be necessary to control high blood pressure, in many cases it can be managed with lifestyle improvements, such as weight loss and dietary changes. If you've been diagnosed with hypertension, you and your doctor will work as a team to decide on the best course of action for you.
Your doctor will most likely recommend that you make lifestyle changes such as eating less fat and salt, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, and making sure you get plenty of exercise. Exercise is important, but people with severe hypertension need to be careful about exercise. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that teens with severe hypertension avoid certain sports only until their hypertension is under control and there is no evidence of organ damage (e.g., heart damage). Sports on the "avoid" list include weight lifting and bodybuilding, especially if done competitively - in other words, sports that focus on building muscle mass but do not balance it with aerobic activity. People whose hypertension is less severe or under control are encouraged to participate in sports as a way of managing their condition.
Can I Prevent Hypertension?
Here are some suggestions that can lessen your chances of developing high blood pressure and help keep you healthy in many other ways, as well:
- Maintain a normal weight for your height.
- Exercise regularly. This can help prevent you from becoming overweight or help you in losing pounds if you need to. Exercise also helps keep your heart and blood vessels strong and healthy.
- Eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables.
- Don't smoke. Smoking and high blood pressure are major risk factors for having a heart attack or stroke later in life.
- Keep your stress levels in check. It may help to practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises.
- Decrease your sodium (salt) intake. Consuming less sodium has been proven to help lower blood pressure in some people and may prevent some from developing high blood pressure in the first place.
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol, which is associated with high blood pressure.
- Know your blood pressure. Have it checked regularly because, although high blood pressure is more common in adults, hypertension can occur at any age.
Credit: National Institute of Health.