Jul 28 2008
Caring for Our Children: High Blood Pressure in Children
Normally children have to deal with childhood diseases. Some of those diseases include measles, chicken pox, mumps, etc. However, today childhood diseases not only include the above, but even more serious diseases. Those conditions could include obesity, diabetes, etc.
One additional serious medical condition or disease could be high blood pressure in children. High blood pressure in children can having devastating affects and can be caused by a number of factors.
Devastating Affects
There are a number of devastating affects that can be experience by the body for those who have high blood pressure. The adverse affects of high blood pressure not only can put an adult at risk, but high blood pressure in children can potentially produce the same risks.
Those potential risks include stroke, renal failure, loss of vision and atherosclerosis. In addition, high blood pressure in children can cause other symptoms. Those symptoms include headaches, bleeding from the nose, vertigo and heart palpitations.
These symptoms and risks associated with high blood pressure in children are due to the fact that elevated blood pressure puts severe strain on the cardiovascular system. This strain causes the heart to work harder and elevates the pressure exerted upon the inner walls of the arterial system.
In addition, when a child is affected physically, this in turn affects the other parts of their being. Specifically, they may tend to isolate themselves and become withdrawn. Also, they may have trouble concentrating in school which in turn affects the learning process.
Factors That Cause High Blood Pressure in Children
There are many factors that can cause high blood pressure in children. Some of these factors cannot be avoided while other causes are due to poor choices. One of the major unavoidable causes of high blood pressure in children is when a baby is born prematurely.
With a premature birth there maybe health risks associated with the early delivery due to the premature release from the womb. Two of those health risks could be high blood pressure and underdeveloped lungs. In addition, high blood pressure in children can be due to heredity.
Other causes of high blood pressure in children can be due to poor choices. Those poor choices can include unhealthy eating which may lead to obesity. Also, if the child is not active or is experiencing undue stress these factors may lead to high blood pressure in children.
Obviously, it is important that children have a health lifestyle. This healthy lifestyle should be a combination of healthy eating, proper exercise, sufficient rest and regular pediatric checkups.
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