 condition, such as kidney disease, heart defects, or sleep disorders. (7)
Essential hypertension occurs on its own without an underlying health condition. This type of high blood pressure is more common in older children, generally older than age 6. Risk factors that lead to essential hypertension include a genetic predisposition or family history of high blood pressure, being overweight or obese, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol or triglycerides. (7)
According to AAP, by age 7, more than 50 percent of pediatric hypertension cases are caused by obesity. That number rises to 85 to 95 percent by adolescence. Establishing positive health habits, including a healthy diet that is low in sodium and high in fruits and vegetables, and plenty of physical activity, is essential in the early years of life for warding off high blood pressure and other health problems. (1)
When High Blood Pressure Leads to Complications in Kids
Children and teens with high blood pressure are likely to continue to struggle with it into adulthood unless they begin treatment.
Cardiovascular complications associated with pediatric hypertension include thickening (hypertrophy) of the heart, which can progress to heart failure. If high blood pressure persists into adulthood, your child could be at an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney disease. (7)
Treatment for Kids and Teens
The first line of treatment for high blood pressure in children is lifestyle changes.
If obesity is the cause, your pediatrician will help you come up with a plan to get your child to lose weight. Limiting salt in your child’s diet will be an important piece of the puzzle. This can be done by restricting the use of table salt and using caution when shopping for packaged foods. Many canned and processed foods contain an excess amount of salt, so read labels carefully before purchasing. Aerobic exercise is also vital for lowering kids’ blood pressure. The AAP recommends 60 minutes of physical activity a day.
If lifestyle changes are not enough, your pediatrician may recommend blood pressure-lowering medication. The AAP recommends pediatricians start children on blood-pressure-lowering medication only if lifestyle changes have failed to work or if the child has another health condition, such as diabetes or kidney disease.
Follow instructions from your healthcare provider carefully and your child will continue to be monitored to make sure the blood pressure is being controlled. (1)
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
- Screening and Treating Kids for High Blood Pressure: AAP Report Explained. American Academy of Pediatrics. August 21, 2017.
- AAP Issues New Pediatric Hypertension Clinical Practice Guideline. American Academy of Pediatrics. August 21, 2017.
- High Blood Pressure in Children. American Heart Association. October 31, 2016.
- Deleted, September 6, 2022.
- High Blood Pressure in Children and Teens. Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
- Hypertension. Boston Children’s Hospital.
- High Blood Pressure in Children. Mayo Clinic. July 30, 2021.