Parents of Schoolgoers  Discussion Forum

Why do kids have high blood pressure? What is the impact of high blood pressure on the health of the kid? How to control or treat high blood pressure in kids? Meena Suveri replied. If an underlying illness is causing hypertension, treating that illness may be enough to get the blood pressure back to normal. the doctor may recommend weight loss, increased intake of fruits and vegetables, decreased salt intake, increased exercise, and even relaxation techniques to control high BP. staying fit is the key to both weight and blood pressure control. Only in the unusual situation when hypertension is very severe would exercise be restricted, and then it should be resumed after control with medications. Mahendra Vatsa replied. High blood pressure, also called hypertension is now common in kids. When someone has high blood pressure, the heart and arteries have a much heavier workload. The heart must pump harder and the arteries are under greater strain as they carry blood. If high blood pressure continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may no longer work as well as they should. Other organs that are receiving the blood, like the kidneys and brain, may also be affected.Having high blood pressure puts someone at a higher risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, loss of vision, and atherosclerosis Disha Vakhani replied. Risk factors for high blood pressure in children include obesity and a family history of high blood pressure. Other risk factors may include medical problems such as sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.Too less of activity encourages obesity along with eating junk food. Kids spend too much time on computers so they are mostly sedentary.