High Blood Pressure In Children by Jane Thurnell-Read

An article in BMC Paediatrics (High Blood Pressure In School Children: Prevalence And Risk Factors by Ximena Urrutia-Rojas and others, November 2006) highlights a real cause for concern over our children’s health. The study carried out in Texas found that 21% of the children had high blood pressure. Among US adults the rate is 28.7% (2002, the National Center for Health Statistics).

Most people think of high blood pressure as being a common symptom for seniors, not for 10-12 year olds.  People with high blood pressure are often unaware of problems until they have a stroke or a heart attack. What sort of future are these children likely to have? Unless positive intervention takes place, these children will probably experience a shortened life span and a poorer quality to the lives they do have.

Some risk factors cannot be changed. For example, Hispanics and African Americans are more likely to have high blood pressure than white Caucasians. This does not mean that nothing can be done. Not everyone in these ethnic groups suffers from high blood pressure. Regardless of your racial origin, it is important to take the steps necessary to keep your blood pressure (and that of your child) at a healthy level.

This and other studies found that overweight is significantly correlated with high blood pressure. So you need to help your child to maintain a healthy body shape and size. Here are some tips how you can do it:

• Set a good example – eat healthy food yourself and enjoy it.
• Involve your child in the buying and cooking of food.
• Have healthy low calorie snacks available at all times. This doesn’t mean low-calorie sodas. Bite-sized vegetables and fruit in fun shapes make nutritious snacks.
• Use smaller plate sizes.
• Don’t put your child on a diet or make any foods off-limit. Instead encourage your child to eat more healthy, nutritious foods.
• Eat more vegetarian meals, as these tend to have fewer calories and less saturated fats in them.
• Talk to your child’s school if they have vending machines stocked with high calorie food and drink. See if you, possibly with the help of other parents, can bring about a change for all children.
• Look at your own emotional issues around food – do you give your children lots of food, as a sign of your love? If so, find other ways to express your love for them.
• Include more exercise into your daily lives, e.g. park further away from the store, and encourage your child to run upstairs rather than walking.
• Get your child to take regular exercise and take exercise yourself. If you’re child plays competitive sport, when they come home, don’t ask them if they won, ask them if they enjoyed it.

Don’t single out your overweight child - these changes will benefit all family members, whether they have high blood pressure or not.

Copyright 2009 Jane Thurnell-Read including information from CDC (USA).