Pediatric high blood pressure (hypertension)
Children's Health℠ uses the latest scientific methods for diagnosing and managing your child’s hypertension (hy·per·ten·sion). Our Heart Center specialists help you and your child manage a diagnosis of high blood pressure. They work closely with our nutritionists and kidney specialists to create a customized plan to tackle a child’s hypertension from all sides.
What is pediatric high blood pressure (hypertension)?
The heart pumps blood to the whole body. Blood pressure is a measurement of how hard the blood pushes against the walls of the arteries (blood vessels that carry blood).
High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Long-term hypertension can lead to serious health issues later in life. High blood pressure can affect children of any age, including infants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in twenty-five children in the United States has hypertension.
Blood pressure is made up of two measurements – systolic over diastolic. If either or both of these levels is consistently high, the child has high blood pressure.
- Systolic blood pressure is the highest pressure in the arteries as the heart pumps blood to the body.
- Diastolic blood pressure is the lowest pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes and fills with blood between beats.
What are the different types of pediatric high blood pressure (hypertension)?
At Children’s Health specialists see three types of hypertension cases:
- Primary hypertension is caused by things like obesity and inactivity. It is the most common type of high blood pressure we see at Children’s Health. It is more common in children who are 9 years and older.
- Secondary hypertension is caused by another medical problem. This can make it more complex to treat and manage. It is more common in younger children.
- White coat hypertension (also known as the white coat effect) happens when a child is nervous about having their blood pressure taken. Being nervous can cause a child’s blood pressure to rise.
Our specialists estimate that between one-third and one-half of kids with hypertension are just experiencing white coat hypertension.
What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric high blood pressure (hypertension)?
High blood pressure often doesn’t cause symptoms in kids. This is why it is very important to check blood pressure regularly at doctor visits. However, a child may have symptoms if their blood pressure suddenly shoots very high.
Schedule an appointment with a doctor if your child exhibits or often complains of:
How is pediatric high blood pressure (hypertension) diagnosed?
For children less than 13 years old, normal blood pressure ranges vary based on gender, age and height.
For children age 13 and up, blood pressure ranges are:
- Normal - Less than 120/80
- Elevated blood pressure - 120-129/80
- Stage 1 hypertension - 130-139/80-89
- Stage 2 hypertension - 140/90 and up
If your child is diagnosed with stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension, the doctor will run blood and urine tests. The doctor may also perform painless imaging tests on your child’s heart or kidneys to see if the high blood pressure is affecting your child’s organs.
You will likely be asked to keep a diary of your child’s blood pressure at home to give the doctors more information. Your child may also need to wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM), a device that allows our team to check blood pressures over 24 hours.
What causes pediatric high blood pressure (hypertension)?
Pediatric hypertension is usually the result of one or more risk factors. These differ depending on the type of hypertension your child has.
Risk factors for primary hypertension include:
- Type 2 diabetes (high fasting blood sugar levels)
- Being overweight or obese
- Poor diet
- Being inactive
- Smoking
- Stress
Risk factors for secondary hypertension include:
- Heart defects
- Kidney disease
- Having been born prematurely
- Certain genetic conditions
- Hormonal disorders
- Obesity
How is pediatric high blood pressure (hypertension) treated?
The most common and effective way to treat high blood pressure in children is through changing some habits.
These changes can include:
- Eating a healthier diet (specifically, a low-salt diet)
- Maintaining an exercise routine
- Encouraging and motivating your child by making changes together as a family
At Children’s Health, we will work with you to help you make needed changes in ways that work for your family. Our pediatric specialists will schedule routine check-ups with your child to provide ongoing support and accountability. Our nutrition team can also help you brainstorm meal ideas that are tasty, nutritious and easy to make.
If these changes don’t work for your child, doctors may prescribe medications. They will monitor your child’s blood pressure levels carefully to be sure that the medications are working.
Pediatric high blood pressure (hypertension) doctors and providers
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Jyothsna Gattineni, MD Pediatric Nephrologist -
Colin Kane, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Mouin Seikaly, MD Pediatric Nephrologist -
Thomas Zellers, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Nathanya Baez Hernandez, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Maria Bano, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Shannon Blalock, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Beth Brickner, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Elizabeth Brown, MD Pediatric Nephrologist -
Ryan Butts, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Melinda Cory, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Keri Drake, MD Pediatric Nephrologist -
Randi Durden, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Chioma Duru, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
David Fixler, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Gerald Greil, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
M. Tarique Hussain, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Halima Janjua, MD Pediatric Nephrologist -
Tracy Laird, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
W. Penn Laird II, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Matthew Lemler, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Lynn Mahony, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Sadia Malik, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Raymond Quigley, MD Pediatric Nephrologist -
Claudio Ramaciotti, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Kavita Sharma, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Alan Sing, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Suren Veeram Reddy, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Amit Verma, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Smitha Vidi, MD Pediatric Nephrologist -
Merick Yamada, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Maria Yates, MD Pediatric Cardiologist -
Robin Landgraf, APRN, PNP-PC Nurse Practitioner - Nephrology
Frequently Asked Questions
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How can I help prevent hypertension in my child?
- Build healthy habits - Keeping physically active, eating a balanced diet and avoiding smoking all help keep blood pressure levels in check.
- Work together as a family - Children can most successfully lower their blood pressure when the whole family changes eating and exercise habits with them.
- Have routine blood pressure checks - When they turn 3 years old, your child should start having their blood pressure checked every year. If they have one or more risk factors, the doctor will check their blood pressure at each visit.
- Learn stress management - Learning meditation and other ways to relax early in life can help bring and keep blood pressure down.
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Will high blood pressure affect my child's heart?
The higher the blood pressure is, the harder the heart has to work to pump blood to the rest of the body. Over time, this can cause the heart muscle to thicken, stiffen or not work as well. Managing high blood pressure can help protect your child’s heart.
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Are blood pressure medications safe for my young child?
Blood pressure medication has a long track record of safety. Your child’s doctor may also monitor for side effects with blood tests and ambulatory blood pressure monitors.