Does the road to heart health start in childhood? Yes. Most risk factors that affect children can be controlled early in life, lowering the risk of heart disease later in life. Heart disease is not a major cause of death among children and teenagers, but it is the largest cause of death among adults in the United States. In fact, someone in America dies every 37 seconds from some form of cardiovascular disease. Certain factors play important roles in a person’s chances of developing heart disease. These are called risk factors. Some risk factors can be changed, treated, or modified, and some cannot. Many risk factors can be controlled early in life, lowering the risk of heart disease later in life. Other risk factors are passed down through family members (they are hereditary) or are the result of another illness or disease. Prevention is the best way to avoid a heart problem later in life. Controlling as many of the following risk factors as possible, starting in childhood, will help reduce your child’s risk of developing heart disease as an adult.
High Blood PressureFewer than 3% of children in the United States have high blood pressure. But high blood pressure is a serious condition in childhood and often goes undetected because it causes no symptoms. Make sure that your child’s blood pressure is checked at his or her yearly check-up. What causes high blood pressure in children?High blood pressure (hypertension) in children is not a congenital heart disease, but it can have a hereditary link. For that reason, children born into families with a history of high blood pressure need to have their blood pressure watched with special care. Most cases of high blood pressure in children are the result of another disease, like heart or kidney disease. This is called secondary hypertension. How is blood pressure measured?The doctor will measure your child’s blood pressure using a device called a sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure readings measure the two parts of blood pressure: systolic and diastolic pressures. Systolic pressure is the force of blood flow through an artery when the heart beats. Diastolic pressure is the force of blood flow within blood vessels when the heart rests between beats. The doctor will look at your child’s age, sex, and height to determine the specific systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Doctors use this method because it lets them look at different levels of growth to determine blood pressure. It also lets them get the most accurate classification of blood pressure according to your child’s body size. How is high blood pressure in children treated?In most cases, lifestyle changes will help children control their high blood pressure.
If a program of diet and exercise does not lower your child’s blood pressure, medicines may be prescribed.
|