High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a medical condition where blood pressure is elevated beyond normal levels. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers, systolic and diastolic pressure, which represent the pressure within the artery of the heart during heart contractions and rest, respectively. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury or mmHg. In adolescents, high blood pressure is considered when there is an abnormal increase in systolic or diastolic pressure.
Blood pressure can va
ry depending on factors such as time of day, emotional state, age, gender, weight, height, physical activity, and health conditions such as heart or kidney disease. It is important to take multiple readings to determine whether an adolescent has high blood pressure or not. Children and adolescents may become anxious when visiting the doctor, affecting their blood pressure readings. Therefore, nurses may ask them to calm down and take readings with time gaps in between.
Age, gender, and height are important factors when determining normal blood pressure levels. Infants typically have a normal blood pressure reading of 80/45, whereas adolescents have a normal blood pressure reading of 110/70. Adults typically have higher blood pressure than infants and teenagers. Boys have higher blood pressure than girls, and tall people have higher blood pressure than short people. An adolescent is said to have high blood pressure when their blood pressure is higher than that of 90% of people of their age, gender, and height.
There are many risks associated with hypertension, such as developing coronary heart disease and stroke. Adolescents who have had high blood pressure as a child may develop harmful effects on their blood vessels and heart until they turn twenty. The causes of high blood pressure can be classified as primary and secondary. Primary causes include high blood cholesterol levels, smoking, stagnant lifestyle, and overweight. Secondary causes include obesity, immobility due to chronic illness, prescription drugs, intense pain due to burns or cancer, and illegal drugs. High blood pressure can also develop due to hereditary reasons.
Hypertension is diagnosed by blood test and urinalysis, and kidney function and blood cholesterol levels are also checked. Family history, eating habits, exercise levels, and activities in school and home are also studied thoroughly. High blood pressure can be treated with weight reduction, healthy diet, and increased physical activity. If hypertension is due to illness, the illness is treated first. Only one percent of adolescents with high blood pressure need medication to bring their blood pressure back to normal. Treatment measures can decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure, strengthen the heart, and decrease cholesterol levels in the blood, which helps to prevent heart diseases.
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