High Blood Pressure in Adolescents

High blood pressure is a condition where the bloodwhen compared to girls and tall people have a higher
pressure is more than normal. It is also known asblood pressure than short people. An adolescent is
hypertension. Heart pumps out blood, so that oxygensaid to have high blood pressure when the blood
can reach to different parts of the body via blood.pressure is more than the blood pressure of ninety
The pressure with which heart pumps blood is knownpercent people of his/her age, gender and height.
as blood pressure. The blood pressure comprises ofThere are many risks associated with hypertension
two measures, the systolic pressure and diastolicor high blood pressure. The risk of developing
pressure. Systolic pressure is the larger figure andcoronary heart disease increases proportionally. The
represents the pressure within the artery of thearteries will develop greater resistance towards the
heart, when contractions take place which pumpblood flow, because of which the heart will pump
blood to different parts of the body. Diastolicblood harder. Stroke is also another risk. Adolescents
pressure is the pressure within the artery of thewho have had high blood pressure as a child, develop
heart, when the blood is filling in the heart and it is atharmful effects on the blood vessels and heart till the
rest. Both the pressures are measured in millimeterstime they turn twenty.
of mercury or mmHg. High blood pressure is abnormalThe causes of high blood pressure can be classified
increase in systolic pressure or diastole pressure.as primary and secondary. If the causes are definite,
Blood pressure is measured by putting a bloodthey are primary and if the cause is linked to some
pressure cuff on the arm and placing a stethoscopeillness, it is secondary. Primary causes are high blood
on the chest. There can be very little variation incholesterol levels, smoking, stagnant lifestyle and
blood pressure depending upon the time, emotionaloverweight. Secondary causes are obesity, immobility
moods, age, gender, weight, height, physical activity,due to chronic illness, prescription drugs, intense pain
stress and other illness such as heart disease anddue to burns or cancer and illegal drugs. High blood
kidney disease. Children and adolescents becomepressure can develop due to hereditary reasons.
anxious when they visit the doctor. This is also anHypertension is diagnosed by blood test and urinalysis.
important factor which affects the blood pressureThe kidney function will also be checked, along with
and the readings taken get tampered because of it.blood cholesterol levels. Family history check is
That is the reason why many blood pressureanother important factor. Adolescents’ eating
readings are taken in order to determine whether thehabits, exercise levels, activities in school and home
adolescent has high blood pressure or not. The nursewill also be studied thoroughly. High blood pressure is
may even ask the adolescent to calm down whiledealt with by weight reduction, healthy diet, and
taken the readings. Time gap is given between eachincrease in physical activity. If hypertension is due to
reading, so as to give time to the adolescent to calmillness, the illness is treated first. These treatment
down. Emotions can also affect the blood pressuremeasures will decrease the systolic blood pressure
reading.and diastolic blood pressure. It will also strengthen the
An infant will have a normal blood pressure reading ofheart and decrease the level of cholesterol in blood.
80/45, where as an adolescent will have a normalThis also helps to keep heart diseases at bay. The
blood pressure reading of 110/70. Therefore, age,good thing is that only one percent of the
gender, and height are important factor whenadolescents, who have high blood pressure, need
determining the normal blood pressure level. Adultsmedication to bring back the blood pressure to
will have a higher blood pressure than the infants andnormal.
teenagers. Also, boys have a higher blood pressure