When children get check ups at the pediatrician's office, a simple blood pressure check should be a part of the routine. However, research has found that many pediatricians are skipping the check and missing some abnormal readings which could indicate hypertension. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) guidelines call for regular blood pressure checks in children three years and older to screen for elevated blood pressure, and say elevated blood pressure on three consecutive medical visits qualifies as hypertension. Even a single episode of high blood pressure can indicate hypertension and should trigger repeat measurements during the visit and subsequent doctor visits, the AAP says. If a child's blood pressure is not checked and controlled early, serious consequences can ensue.
When to Worry About A Child's Blood Pressure
The epidemic of childhood obesity has put a lot of parents and pediatricians on high alert. A child's weight and height can be an indicator of a problem. A normal blood pressure reading for a child between three and five years of age would be around 116/76. Young teenagers may show a reading of 136/86. According to Dr. Sue Hubbard, an adviser with Kidsdr.com, the standards for measuring a child's blood pressure depend on age and height. "When a child’s blood pressure reading is greater than the 90th percentile for their age they are said to have pre-hypertension," she writes in her column. Once pre-hypertension is detected, a child has to be monitored regularly to ensure that the pressure does not increase as he or she grows. Furthermore, a child's diet and exercise level must be investigated to see if they are contributing factors to their elevated numbers.
Pediatricians Miss Blood Pressure Readings
A Johns Hopkins Children's Center study found some discouraging news when they examined medical visits at pediatrician's offices. The research found that out of 2,500 records of visits to the pediatrician’s office medical staff did not check the blood pressure in 500 cases. Elevated blood pressure scores were recorded in 726 cases of the 2,000 measurements taken, but the implications went unrecognized and unremarked upon in 87 percent of them, the study found. The study found that medical staff was more likely to miss elevated blood pressures in children of normal weight and in those without a family history of cardiovascular disease. The same was true for those children whose blood pressure was at or below 120/80, a score considered ideal in adults, but one that may portend trouble in a child, depending on height, gender and age.
Hypertension is a dangerous condition that can adversely affect adults as well as children. Normal height and weight numbers shouldn't deter a parent or a pediatrician from getting a blood pressure check up along with any other tests during a routine visit. Detecting hypertension early can have a lasting improve the health of a child and keep them on a healthy path to adulthood.
Candace Y.A. Montague - Candace Y.A. Montague is a lover of the arts; especially writing. She has been a "writer in training" for over 10 years and has published ...
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