Mar 1, 2019
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/HlSz7GuNKNQ
Teen hypertension doubles the risk of end stage renal failure later in life. A study just published in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at more than 1.5 million candidates for Israeli military service. Of this group, nearly 8000 were found to have elevated blood pressures.
Those with hypertension were predominately male and half were overweight or obese. They were followed for nearly 20 years. Teen hypertension doubled the risk of eventual kidney failure, a need for dialysis, and a possible kidney transplant even for those who were not overweight.
Elevated blood pressures in children have become more common as the rate of childhood and adolescent obesity skyrockets. Pediatricians now recommend that every child over the age of 3 years should have their blood pressures checked annually.
If their pressures are elevated, they should be measured at every visit and treated aggressively initially with lifestyle changes such as weight reduction, dietary modification, exercise, an stress management. For severe or persisting elevations, a regimen of anti-hypertensive medication should be prescribed.
#teen #hypertension #obesity, bloodpressure #healthnews
Leiba A, Fishman B, Twig G, et al. Association of Adolescent Hypertension With Future End-Stage Renal Disease. JAMA Intern Med. Published online February 25, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.7632
Riley M, Hernandez AK, Kuznia AL. High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents.
Am Fam Physician. 2018 Oct 15;98(8):486-494.