Treating Hypertension in Adolescents

Hypertension (known as high blood pressure) occurs when the body’s blood pressure is higher than normal as the heart pumps blood to carry oxygen to all body parts. The pressure which the heart uses to pump the blood is called blood pressure and is measured by two pressure readings (measured as mmHg or millimetres of mercury) namely diastolic and systolic pressure.

The larger reading is systolic pressure which is the pressure inside the heart artery when contractions occur to pump blood. The smaller reading is diastolic pressure inside the heart artery when the heart is resting as blood fills it. An abnormal reading is high blood pressure.

Blood pressure may be influenced by age, weight, gender, time, height, emotional moods, stress, physical activity, or illnesses like kidney and heart disease. Anxiety when visiting doctors negatively affects blood pressure readings – a lot of readings are required to determine if a child or adolescent suffers from blood pressure and time gaps between readings are important to ensure readings are as normal as possible.

Normal blood pressure readings in infants are 80/45 while adolescents record 110/70.  Age, height and gender are important factors in establishing normal blood pressure levels. Adults have higher blood pressure compared to children; boys have higher blood pressure compared to girls while tall persons have higher blood pressure compared to shorter persons. Adolescents record high blood pressure if the reading is higher than the average blood pressure of 90% other adolescents of the same gender, age and height.     

Some risks linked to hypertension are coronary heart disease and strokes (when the heart has to pump harder) and in adolescents it can cause damage to the heart and blood vessels. There are primary and secondary causes of hypertension. Primary causes are explicit such as being overweight, smoking, elevated blood cholesterol levels and sedentary lifestyle. Secondary causes are factors like obesity linked to immobility resulting from chronic illnesses, prescription drug use, extreme pain from cancer or burns and illegal drug use. Hereditary factors may also cause high blood pressure.

Hypertension diagnosis is done through urinalysis and blood tests (kidney functions and blood cholesterol levels are checked including ascertaining family history factors). Adolescent factors are eating habits, exercise routines, home/school activities. Treatment of hypertension includes healthy diets, weight reduction and physical activities. Hypertension due to an illness requires the illness to be treated first. Treatment decreases systolic and diastolic pressures, strengthens the heart and decreases blood cholesterol levels and keeps the heart disease free.  In adolescents just 1% of those with high blood pressure will require medication to restore it to normal.