Is Your Child Turning Hypertensive? Get This Screening Done For Early Detection

Hypertension is the most common cause of various diseases currently. More than one-fourth of the world population suffers from it. According to a study it was found that about 9.2 percent of the adults have hypertension, while about 4.5 percent of the women have this problem. 

Hypertension leads to problems like diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases and these can be controlled through exercise, controlling weight, and learning better internal and external stress management. Regularly monitoring and continuing the prescribed medicines can help in keeping these conditions under control. This helps in reducing life risk factors too. 

Some of the common causes of hypertension are unhealthy diets like excessive salt consumption, a diet rich in trans fats, and a lower intake of fruits and vegetables.

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A common perception we hold is that hypertension can only cause among adults between the age of 30 to 40 years old, but it is not the reality anymore. Now some of the emerging trends suggest that children are too becoming prone to cardiac disease, especially amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

So reports say, it is a big myth that children do not go through hypertension. While a simple screening of their blood pressure can reveal it. A considerable number of children do have hypertension. 

Therefore, the pediatricians these days routinely check the blood pressure of children to check whether they have hypertension or not. It is necessary to explore secondary causes when children or young adults have hypertension.

In a discussion on ‘Prevention and Management of Hypertension’ organized by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) in their Illness to Wellness series, these suggestions were put forward.

#ASSOCHAM concluded the eighth edition of the #IllnessToWellness series themed ‘Prevention and Management of Hypertension’. The event saw a panel of leading cardiologists hold a dialogue on hypertension prevalence & its risks at the time of #COVID19.https://t.co/T4posjeVcL

— ASSOCHAM #WearAMask (@ASSOCHAM4India) October 9, 2020

Children Of Hypertensive Parents More At Risk

If parents have a history of premature coronary artery disease, then the child is also at a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Usually, the blood pressure levels of children are not checked.

Most of the time it goes undetected, and by the time it gets detected, it may have already created a lot of damage in the body due to the constant high pressure exerted. So early detection is very essential and can have a long and good life. 

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Cholesterol Test At Age 11 Now A Necessity

According to experts, “at least at the age of 11 or at least at 18, a cholesterol test should be done at and for children born with a family history of high cholesterol; it can be done as early as 2 years of life”

It may be surprising but it is the right age to detect hypertension among children. Detecting high cholesterol in the younger age group and bringing it down to a normal range will help them to have a long and healthy life. 

Diseases like high cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension are easily prevented and can be treated if detected at an early age.

Hypertension Is Not A Rich Man’s Disease

Padma Bhushan awardee T.S. Kler who is also a chairperson at PSRI Heart Institute, Delhi, stated that “another myth that revolves around hypertension is a rich man’s disease, rather, it is another way around. Two-third of the patients of hypertension are in lower-middle-income countries. Incidents of hypertension are less in advanced countries like the USA. People say that it is a disease of the rich, but it is not so, rather it is the other way around.”

About 95 percent of hypertension cases are idiopathic hypertension meaning, we do not know the cause of it. Only 5 percent of cases have some removable cause. 

While cardiovascular mortality in Europe and America has reduced by 50 percent while in India it has increased by 41 percent, said, experts.