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Confronting Hypertension In Children As Early as 3-Years of Age

Posted: Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Citing the nation's rise in obesity, the American Academy of Pediatrics is encouraging pediatricians to routinely check children as young as 3 for high blood pressure.

As a practical matter, many doctors already begin checking blood pressure at about that age. But the recommendations, which appear as a supplement to the August issue of the journal Pediatrics, re-emphasize the importance of doing so. On the basis of developing evidence, the report says, it is apparent that primary hypertension is detectable in the young and occurs commonly.

And, updating guidelines last issued in 1996, the recommendations give detailed advice about the best way to measure blood pressure in children and redefine the readings that require medical attention, said Dr. Bonita Falkner of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, chairwoman of the group of doctors who developed the report.

The recommendations also detail what drugs can be used in children whose high blood pressure does not respond to lifestyle changes.

Source: Diabetes In Control.com: