Kids turning hypertensive: Get your child screened for early detection

The commonly held perception that hypertension is common among the adults, especially among 30 to 40 years old, no longer holds true.

By: Jahnavi Sarma | | Published: October 9, 2020 1:04 pm

Common causes behind hypertension are unhealthy diets like excessive salt consumption, diet rich in transfats and lower intake of fruits and vegetables. @Shutterstock

Hypertension is currently one of the most common diseases. More than one fourth of the world population suffers from it. It was found that 9.2 per cent of the adult men have hypertension while it is found among 4.5 per cent in females. Patients of hypertension, diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases can easily bring it under control through regular exercise, weight control and by learning better management of internal and external stress. Regular monitoring and continuation of prescribed medicines can keep these conditions from developing into high risk factors. Common causes behind hypertension are unhealthy diets like excessive salt consumption, diet rich in transfats and lower intake of fruits and vegetables. Also Read - Akshay Kumar, Piyush Mishra, Sonam Kapoor and more Bollywood celebs who opened up on facing sexual abuse in childhood

The commonly held perception that hypertension is common among the adults, especially among 30 to 40 years old, no longer holds true. Emerging trends suggest that children are becoming prone to the cardiac disease as well, especially amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Manjinder Sandhu, director of cardiology at Artemis Heart Center, Gurugram, said in a webinar that it is a big myth that children do not have hypertension and a simple screening of their blood pressure would reveal it. A significant number of children do have it (hypertension). In fact, pediatricians these days routinely check the blood pressure of children. When children or young adults have hypertension, it is necessary to explore secondary causes. Also Read - Genes linked to common brain disorder, Chiari 1 malformation, identified

Children of hypertensive parents more at risk

Blood pressure levels of children are usually not checked. It goes undetected and, by the time it was detected, it may have already created a lot of damage in the body due to the constant high pressure exerted. Early detection is essential, and it can help prolong lives. If parents have a history of premature coronary artery disease, then the child is also at a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Also Read - Childhood stress is not uncommon: You just have to know how to deal with it

Cholesterol test at age 11 now a necessity

Experts say that a cholesterol test should be done at least at the age of 11 or at least at 18. For children born with a family history of high cholesterol, it can be done as early as 2 years of life. It may seem surprising, but it is the right age to detect. Detecting high cholesterol in the younger age group and bringing it down to a normal range will prolong their life. Preventable and treatable disorders like high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension when detected early can make life comfortable and disease-free for these children. The suggestions were put forth during a discussion on ‘Prevention and Management of Hypertension’ organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) in their Illness to Wellness series.

Hypertension is not a rich man’s disease

Padma Bhushan awardee T.S. Kler who is also a chairperson at PSRI Heart Institute, Delhi, asserted that another myth that revolves around hypertension is a rich man’s disease, rather, it is other way around. Two third of the patients of hypertension are in the lower middle-income countries. In fact, 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. Also, almost 95 per cent of hypertension cases are idiopathic hypertension meaning, we do not know the cause of it. Only 5 per cent cases have some removable cause. Experts also said that cardiovascular mortality in Europe and America has reduced by 50 per cent while in India it has increased by 41 per cent.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Published : October 9, 2020 1:04 pm

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