HIGH blood pressure in children has emerged as a “substantial public health concern” with rates almost doubling since the year 2000.
Obesity is a major driver in the prevalence of the ‘silent killer’ condition among kids, say experts.
More than one in 20 (6.2 per cent) children under the age of 19 were believed to have high blood pressure in 2020, researchers have said.
Their findings, published in the journal Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, found this to be a rise from 3.2 per cent in 2000.
After examining data on 443,000 children from 21 countries, the academics, from the University of Edinburgh and Zhejiang University in China, said this means high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, now affects 114 million children around the world.
Nearly 19 per cent of children and adolescents with obesity were found to have high blood pressure – compared with three per cent among children with a healthy weight.
This led the researchers to identifying obesity as a major driver of the increase in high blood pressure in this age group.
The latest figures suggest one in 10 (10.5 per cent) children in the first year of primary school in England is obese.
This rises to 22.2 per cent of children in the final year of primary school, Year 6, according to data from the National Child Measurement Programme.
Dr Peige Song, researcher from Zhejiang University, said the rise is “driven largely by lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diets, decreased physical activity, and the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity”.
She said: “Hypertension in children and adolescents has emerged as a substantial public health concern.”
Dr Song added: “The analysis showed that children and adolescents with obesity are nearly eight times more likely to develop hypertension.
“Approximately 19 per cent of children with obesity were found to have hypertension, compared to just 2.4 per cent of those within a healthy weight range.
“This is likely due to obesity-associated complications, such as insulin resistance and vascular changes, which disrupt normal blood pressure regulation.”
Parents play a pivotal role in preventing and managing high blood pressure in children, said Dr Song.
Promoting healthy habits, such as a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains while minimising salt and sugar intake, can substantially reduce the risk of hypertension
And encouraging regular physical activity and limiting sedentary behaviours, such as excessive screen time, are equally crucial.
Dr Song continued: “For families with a history of hypertension, regular blood pressure monitoring for children is strongly recommended.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE COMPLICATIONS
HIGH blood pressure can lead to severe complications because it puts strain on your blood vessels and organs.
Heart attack: High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks by damaging the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
Heart failure: The heart must work harder to pump blood against high pressure, which can lead to heart failure over time.
Stroke: High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, causing either a blockage in a blood vessel in the brain or bleeding into the brain.
Aneurysms: High pressure can damage blood vessels, leading to a bulge in a blood vessel wall, known as an aneurysm. A rupture is life-threatening.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD): Hypertension can cause narrowed arteries, reducing blood flow to the limbs and other parts of the body.
Chronic kidney disease and kidney failure: High pressure can damage the arteries leading to the kidneys, impairing their ability to filter waste from the blood.
Vision loss: Damage to the blood vessels in your eyes can lead to vision changes and even blindness (hypertensive retinopathy).
Vascular dementia: High blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the brain, increasing the risk of memory loss and other cognitive problems.
“Early detection of elevated blood pressure, particularly through home monitoring, can help mitigate the risk of long-term complications.”
The researchers also examined where blood pressure is taken – including in a doctor’s office or in other situations, such as using blood pressure cuffs at home.
When blood pressure was solely measured in a doctor’s office it appeared cases were lower, but when measurements taken at home or in ambulances were included, the rates rose, researchers found.
Dr Song warned: “Reliance solely on office blood pressure measurements may result in underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis.”
Commenting on the study, Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: “The doubling in childhood high blood pressure rates is deeply concerning.
“Elevated blood pressure in childhood often persists into adulthood, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke later in life.
“While genetics and kidney disease play a role, the sharp rise in childhood hypertension is most likely driven by the growing prevalence of childhood obesity.
“The good news is that obesity-related high blood pressure can be reversed.
“We need bold Government action to help prevent obesity in the first place. This includes expanding restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy products and exploring further measures to drive the food industry to make our everyday foods healthier.”
SO WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTENSION TO LOOK OUT FOR?
High blood pressure doesn’t usually cause any symptoms, which is why it’s dubbed the silent killer.
Many people have it without realising – the only way to find out if you have the condition is to get your blood pressure checked.
In rare cases, high blood pressure can cause symptoms, including:
If you often experience headaches or blurred vision, have chest pain that comes and goes, or have other symptoms you’re worried could be caused by high blood pressure, get help from NHS 111.
HOW TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE
HEALTHY lifestyle changes can help lower your blood pressure:
- have a healthy, balanced diet
- exercise regularly – aim to do at least 150 minutes of exercise a week
- lose weight if you’re overweight
You should also:
- avoid eating too much salt – avoid salty food or adding salt to your meals
- avoid drinking too much alcohol – avoid drinking more than 14 alcohol units a week on a regular basis
- avoid drinking too much caffeine – drinks high in caffeine include coffee, tea and cola
- avoid smoking
Source: NHS
