High blood pressure in teenagers: what to do.

Hypertension does not only develop in old age. Teenagers can also be susceptible to this problem. The disease has serious complications. It is very important to detect it in time and begin treatment.

In teenagers, normal blood pressure is almost the same as in older people.

But there are cases when teenagers at 14, 15, 17 years old developed hypertension. Most doctors are of the opinion that abnormalities in the cardiovascular system arise from childhood, so it is important to monitor the child’s blood pressure.

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to determine why the child's blood pressure is higher than normal.

Why might a child have high blood pressure?

There are many causes of hypertension. It can occur at any age under the influence of poor ecology, lifestyle and body condition.

But at the age of 14, 15, 17 years, high blood pressure may be a symptom of another disease.

These include:

• constriction of blood vessels in the kidneys;
• tumors;
• renal failure;
• autoimmune diseases.

In adolescents, hypertension may be a response to hormonal changes that occur at this age due to puberty.

Also, the disease at 14, 15, 17 years old can arise as a result of VSD, which develops under the influence of age-related changes.

Hypertension in a child can also occur due to a hereditary predisposition. In addition, the development of the disease with early years influences and poor nutrition, obesity, emotional overload. High blood pressure is common in teenagers who are experiencing family conflicts or suffer because of problems at school.

Typically, at the age of 14-15 years, hypertension develops against the background of hormonal changes. And in an older child, it can occur due to overwork and anxiety associated with final exams or entering a university.

At the age of 15-17, children react sharply to all events. A teenager has a lot of doubts about his future, he can become aggressive and overly emotional. All this contributes to increased blood pressure.

Such problems can arise if the child has obstructive sleep apnea, that is, snoring. In this case, you need to contact a somnologist. It will solve this problem and help normalize breathing. This will help lower blood pressure.

Signs of the disease in adolescents

In adolescents, hypertension manifests itself with the same symptoms as in older people:

1. The child is often worried headache, which worsens in the morning and evening.
2. Dizziness may occur.
3. The teenager gets tired quickly and becomes irritable due to constantly feeling unwell.
4. The child's mood changes constantly and very quickly.

There are cases when hypertension that began at age 15 goes away on its own

This occurs if the disease is caused hormonal disorders, Related adolescence. When this period passes, the pressure returns to normal. But the child’s condition still needs to be monitored.
Diagnostics.
IN adolescence Hypertension is most often determined by chance. Parents associate most of the symptoms of pathology with the transition period. To know for sure that a child has high blood pressure, the doctor must measure it several times in a row. Only if violations were noticed more than three times, the specialist will carry out diagnostic measures.

When it becomes clear that this is hypertension, the doctor conducts an examination, collects information about complaints and characteristics of the body.

Blood and urine tests are also prescribed, ultrasonography internal organs to exclude pathologies that can cause increased blood pressure. An electrocardiogram is also prescribed. In some cases, consultations with other specialists (cardiologist, endocrinologist) are necessary.

These diagnostic measures help to establish the cause of the deviations and make it possible to prescribe the most appropriate treatment.

Treatment of the disease in adolescents

No matter what age a child develops hypertension, nothing can be done. You definitely need to see a doctor.

The specialist will prescribe the following treatment:

1. Medicines. If a teenager needs medications to lower blood pressure, then doctors try to find ones that will give desired effect at the minimum dosage.
2. Lifestyle changes. From an early age it is necessary to monitor the child’s nutrition and lifestyle. This will prevent the development of the disease. On initial stages To get rid of hypertension, it is enough to follow the rules healthy eating, control your weight, exercise, get enough rest.
3. Folk remedies. Among such methods, acupuncture, massages, and relaxation therapy are popular.

If blood pressure has increased due to pathologies of internal organs, then the first thing to do is to eliminate this pathology. Only then will treatment of hypertension produce results.

Treatment for hypertension in adolescents should only be selected by a doctor.

Only a specialist can (based on the characteristics of the disease and individual characteristics patient's body) prescribe treatment.

At the age of 15-17, global changes occur in the child’s body. He “comes out” of childhood and becomes an adult. This is accompanied by severe anxiety, which can lead to the development of hypertension. But in some cases this problem may be the answer to serious pathology. Therefore, at the first symptoms, it is necessary to show the child to the doctor. Only a specialist can determine how serious this problem is.

Throughout a person's life, blood pressure changes several times.

The changes that occur to a person are enormous, especially in adolescence when the body prepares for adulthood.

Blood pressure in adolescents is influenced not only by stress on the nervous system, but also by many other factors.

Letters from our readers

Subject: I got rid of hypertension!

To: Site Administration

Christina
Moscow

My hypertension was hereditary - from my mother, by the way, now I’m treating her too.

The norms for blood pressure in adolescents are shown in the table.

Table 1. Normal indicators for adolescents from 13 to 17 years old

At the age of 18, blood pressure stops changing. Blood pressure numbers closer to this age stabilize at the levels of an adult: 110/160-140/90.

The table shows that the indicators for adolescents in the age range from 13 to 17 years are unstable, especially for children 14 years old. Blood pressure norms in such adolescents are difficult to determine, since at this age children are very often in. And if the child is healthy, his pulse still periodically increases, his heart rate increases, and headaches appear.

Frequent cases of the listed symptoms and sudden changes in blood pressure in adolescents require mandatory consultation.

If during puberty a child’s blood pressure is 130 over 80, it is periodic and does not affect general health, there is no reason to worry. And if a child feels unwell, and at the same time, let’s say, the lower blood pressure indicator is 50, it’s worth thinking about. There is a risk of hypotension.

The causes of blood pressure instability at a young age are:

• hormonal surge;
• stressful conditions;
• poor nutrition, excess weight;
• physical inactivity;
• overexertion from working at the computer;
• bad habits;
• heredity;
• chronic diseases.

Blood pressure norms for adolescence

If a child's blood pressure is 130 over 80 or 102 over 60 mm Hg. Art., then such data are considered within normal limits. It is also worth noting that rare cases of high blood pressure in transition period do not always indicate pathology.

Frequent rise in readings up to 140 to 90 mmHg. Art. is considered to be high blood pressure. In this case, parents should be concerned. If this phenomenon has become permanent, one can assume the development of arterial hypertension.

The exact definition of the norm for the age of 13 -17 years is calculated using the following formulas:

• 1.7*(patient years)+83 = upper (systolic) blood pressure.
• 1.6*(patient years)+42 = lower (diastolic) blood pressure.

From the age of 15 in a teenager normal indicators pressures become the same as in an adult.

To diagnose arterial hypertension, adolescents are prescribed:

• ECG, ECHO of the heart;
• blood tests: general, biochemical;
• general urine analysis;
• Ultrasound of the kidneys;
• examination by a nephrologist, ophthalmologist, neurologist.

To normalize high blood pressure in adolescents, an integrated approach is used. Based on the results of the analysis, doctors prescribe the following:

• correct daily routine: adequate sleep, limiting computer use, moderate mental stress;
• rational physical exercise, hardening;
• good nutrition, the use of foods that lower blood pressure (cabbage, milk, spinach, bananas, kiwi, etc.), vitamin complexes.
• herbal medicine: taking a decoction, peony tincture, ;
• reflexology, acupuncture;
• , which reduce blood pressure and are prescribed by a doctor;
• treatment of a disease that provoked high blood pressure (kidney disease, endocrine diseases, head injuries, etc.).

To prevent high blood pressure in adolescence, it is recommended to avoid bad habits- drinking alcohol and smoking. It is also very important to limit your salt intake.

So that blood pressure levels always remain normal without using medicines, the following conditions must be met.

The blood pressure norm for a teenager is somewhat different from the norm for an adult; moreover, the norm is set by a range, and within the range it is different for each person. It is necessary to know the norm of your own pressure for two reasons - firstly, you should measure your pressure from time to time, without having any signs of pathology, in order to know the individual norm. Secondly, blood pressure (BP) can increase without any significant symptoms; to identify hypertension, it is measured and compared with a previously established norm.

The individual norm depends on many indicators, including the state of the body, gender and age.

What does a teenager's blood pressure depend on?

A child's body functions in the same way as an adult, but with a number of differences. Metabolic processes go faster, cells also divide much faster and require more blood and nutrients. This requires more intense circulation - a child’s heart beats faster than an adult’s, which is reflected in the pulse, which is higher in children than in adults.

There are two pressure indicators - systolic (upper) and diastolic (lower), and each of them reflects certain parameters.

If a child has low blood pressure, this is not a reason for concern; such indicators are normal for children of a certain age. Conversely, you can miss hypertension in a child if you measure it in terms of adults.

The upper, systolic pressure, depends on the contractions of the heart. The stronger the heart muscle contracts, the more blood is released into the aorta and the stronger the pulse wave. The pressure increases. Since there are not as many muscle elements in the heart of a child as in the heart of an adult, and also due to the immaturity of the conduction system of the heart in early age and the absence of compensatory hypertrophy obtained during life, this indicator in children is usually lower than in adults. This is important for understanding that if a child has low blood pressure, this is not a reason for concern; such indicators are normal for children of a certain age. Conversely, you can miss hypertension in a child if you measure it in terms of adults.

The lower pressure is called diastolic, and depends on:

• kidneys and excretory system. The kidneys regulate the amount of urine output and the volume of circulating blood. If for some reason the functional insufficiency of this organ does not filter, the volume of blood in the bloodstream increases and the pressure increases. This also has the opposite effect - massive diuresis leads to a drop in blood pressure (and is also fraught with an imbalance of electrolytes);
• endocrine system. There are several hormonal systems that control blood pressure. These include the renin-angiotensin system, which has a decisive influence on peripheral vascular tone, the adrenal system, and the hormones vasopressin and aldosterone. Some act on vascular tone, some – on electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, chlorine);
• nervous system. Constant and fast regulation is carried out autonomously nervous system. It maintains peripheral vascular tone, ensuring the flow of venous blood to the heart. The walls of blood vessels contain many smooth muscle elements, which, when contracting, push the blood further and further. These stimuli are supplied by subcortical centers. The heart muscle also needs the same regulation.

A child's heart beats faster than an adult's, which is reflected in the pulse, which is higher in children than in adults.

Thus, from these two figures, the blood pressure indicator is formed, which is normally in the range of 110–120/70–80 mmHg. Art. (millimeters of mercury).

Normal blood pressure levels in children and adolescents

Normal blood pressure readings in a child may not resemble the books, so formulas have been developed to calculate the pressure that is considered optimal in childhood. They look like this:

• up to one year of life – 76 + 2 x T (where T is the months of the child’s life) for systolic, while diastolic is from 1/2 to 2/3 of systolic;
• over one year of life - 90 + 2 x T (where T is the child’s age in years) for the upper pressure, and the lower one will be 60 + T. For example, the normal pressure in children 10 years old will be 110 per 70 mm Hg. Art.

Up to 2 weeks of life – 60–96 at 40–50 mmHg. Art. This is not low blood pressure, as is commonly believed, the fact is that the heart muscle of children of this age is not yet mature enough, and the composition of the blood contains a lot of young hemoglobin, which is typical only for such young children and is practically absent in the body of an adult. The pulse in newborns is very frequent, but the cardiac output is not strong, so the pressure does not increase.

2–4 weeks of life – the strength of the heart muscle increases, but the child’s needs for oxygen and nutrition also increase, so the pressure increases to 80–112 by 50–74 mmHg. Art.

Up to a year, the child grows rapidly, and with it the heart - now the pressure is 90-115 at 60-75 mm Hg. Art.

3–6 years – the pressure is as much as is necessary to successfully support the growing body. The numbers reach 110–115 at 65–75 mm Hg. Art. It becomes noticeable that the lower limit of the range is reduced; this is characteristic of a strengthening heart muscle.

Normal blood pressure readings in a child may not resemble the books, so formulas have been developed to calculate the pressure that is considered optimal in childhood.

6–12 years is an important time for the body; closer to the end of this time period of life, a total restructuring of everything begins due to puberty, and these changes cannot but affect the pressure. At this time, gender differences in blood pressure arise - the pressure in boys and girls will differ from this period. The normal blood pressure in an 11-year-old child is 115–120 per 70–80 mm Hg. Art., that is, reaches adult values.

From 13 years to 15 years - at this age hormonal changes continue, but blood pressure does not normally increase. High blood pressure during this period may be due to emotional stress, increased mental work, and an inactive lifestyle. The blood pressure norm for a 14-year-old teenager is the same as for an adult, its upper limit is 120 per 80 mm Hg. Art., and anything higher can be a manifestation of full-fledged hypertension with a full complex of symptoms.

At the age of 16 and 17 years, a lot of estrogen is synthesized in the girls’ bodies, a female sex hormone that has a vasodilating effect and lowers blood pressure. Therefore, some hypotension (persistent low blood pressure) is a common condition for girls, and boys at this age are more likely to experience symptoms of hypertension. This situation persists until the cessation of estrogen synthesis - menopause, when parity is established.

How to measure a child's blood pressure

If a child complains of feeling unwell, dizziness, weakness, insomnia, has a deterioration in concentration, memory, if he experiences mood swings, is aggressive or hot-tempered, talks about headaches, his blood pressure should be measured so as not to miss a serious pathology.

If you notice any deviation in blood pressure from the age norm, you should under no circumstances adjust it yourself; “adult” antihypertensive drugs are especially dangerous for children.

There are several rules that must be followed:

1. The tonometer cuff should fit tightly to your arm and not sag. In addition, it should not cover the arm several times; the circumference of the arm should be equal to 80-100% of the length of the cuff, otherwise the readings will not be accurate. Therefore, you should use a special children's cuff, which is often supplied with the tonometer.
2. Measurements should be carried out correctly three times on each hand with an interval of 3-5 minutes. After measurement it is determined average, it indicates the correct pressure level.
3. The optimal time to regularly measure blood pressure is in the morning after waking up, and also in the evening before bed.
4. The child should be calm; there is no need to measure blood pressure after a hearty meal, during or after a walk, running, active games, or crying. This is not the right time; the resulting indicator will not be objective. It is necessary to reassure the child, explain that it is not painful and useful, and interest him. The measurement should be preceded by half an hour of quiet sitting or some leisurely entertainment.
5. There is no need to put the cuff on clothes, even thin ones - this will confuse the device’s readings and interfere with the measurement.
6. The measurement is carried out in sitting position(For infants is also allowed while lying down), while the cuff should be located at the same level as the heart, and the cuff tube should be located parallel to the radial artery.
7. If the tonometer is not mechanical, do not hold the bulb in your hands while deflating air and counting numbers on the device screen - the pulsation of the arteries in your hand may disturb the device and the result will be incorrect.

By following these rules you can get exact result. Often there is no need to carry it out yourself - a doctor can do this, acting according to the protocol and with maximum accuracy.

6–12 years is an important time for the body; closer to the end of this time period of life, a total restructuring of everything begins in connection with the puberty period. At this time, gender differences in blood pressure appear.

Causes of pathological pressure in children

So, we found out what pressure children should have at 12 years old, 13 years old, 14 years old, and so on. Now let's talk about what could be the cause of blood pressure deviation from the norm.

High blood pressure in children can be caused by:

• emotional overstrain (most common reason hypertension in children, especially emotionally labile ones);
• intense physical activity (active games, running) and some time after it;
• painful sensations (falls, injuries);
• as well as diseases of the kidneys, endocrine glands, of cardio-vascular system(secondary hypertension).

Primary hypertension in children has a mild form, that is, it rarely has severe symptoms.

Low blood pressure in a child occurs with severe fatigue, lack of sleep, lack of regular physical activity (later this condition can lead to hypertension if it lasts for a long time), infectious diseases(especially in chronic form), allergies, taking certain medications, helminthic infestations, disruption of sleep and wakefulness.

If you notice any deviation in blood pressure from the age norm, you should under no circumstances adjust it yourself; “adult” antihypertensive drugs are especially dangerous for children. It is necessary to consult a doctor who will conduct an examination, find out the exact cause of the pathology and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.

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Blood pressure is a very significant indicator of the functioning of the human circulatory system. It is the force with which the heart muscle contracts and the resistance of the vascular walls. Pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury using the following indicators: systolic pressure, which exists immediately at the moment of contraction of the heart muscle, and diastolic pressure - the pressure during the break between contractions.

Blood pressure significantly affects the speed of blood flow and oxygen saturation of tissues and various human organs. All metabolic processes that occur in the body are also very dependent on it

Pressure indicators depend on several factors: the total blood volume of the body’s circulatory system, physical activity and its intensity. Also, the presence or absence of any diseases and age greatly affect blood pressure.

What is normal blood pressure for teenagers?

The norms for blood pressure and pulse approximately coincide with the norms for humans and are: systolic - 100-140 mm Hg, diastolic - 70-90 mm Hg (at 60-80 heart beats per minute).

There is also a special one for calculations for teenagers and from 7 to 18 years old. Systolic pressure is calculated as follows: 1.7* (age)+83. : 1.6*(age)+42.

Thus, it turns out that 14 systolic pressure is 107 mmHg, diastolic pressure is 65 mmHg.

This formula is used to calculate the average normal value pressure in teenagers. The disadvantage of this method is that it does not take into account the dependence of average pressure values ​​on the gender and height of adolescents.

Causes of pressure surges in adolescence

There are two main sudden changes (increase or decrease) in blood pressure in adolescents:
- hormonal - associated with puberty of the body and its restructuring;
- vegetative-vascular – a condition that is caused by changes in the autonomic nervous system.

Vegetative-vascular dystonia may manifest itself as increased intracranial pressure which is accompanied by headaches, nausea, swelling under the eyes, excessive sweating and nervousness.

Low blood pressure in adolescence

A teenager who has a tendency to low blood pressure it is necessary to increase the overall tone of the body. Vascular training is also necessary, by gradually increasing physical activity, hardening (suitable cold and hot shower and foot baths). Herbal medicine will also be very effective: regular green tea, eleutherococcus, Chinese lemongrass, tansy and rosemary in the form of herbal infusions.

High blood pressure in adolescence

As with low blood pressure, exercise will be very effective in this case (the only contraindication if high blood pressure developed into hypertension). Also, physical activity is a great way to combat overweight, which is one of the main factors in increasing blood pressure, and also makes the walls of blood vessels more elastic.

A change in the child’s diet has a positive effect: less flour, sweets, fatty, salty and more large quantities eat vegetables and fruits. Medicinal herbs, which can also be used in the form of infusions for high blood pressure in adolescents are the following: dandelion, rosehip, (it is recommended to drink them with the addition of small quantity honey or propolis), and you also need to eat 1 clove of garlic every day for a couple of months.

Blood pressure limits are individual for each person, including children. Normal pressure for a teenager of 14 years old or 16 years old - the concept is conditional and relative. Health in these years requires special attention, and any jumps in blood pressure are a signal of possible violation health, including pathology of the cardiovascular system.

Age norms for blood pressure in a teenager

For children, low blood pressure in adolescence is considered normal.

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An expanded network of capillary vessels, the elasticity of their walls determines sufficient low level Blood pressure in childhood. Starting from birth, it increases quite quickly, and by the age of 18 it reaches the normal adult level. Until the age of 5, there are no differences between the arterial parameters of girls and boys, but as they grow older, they can change and increase. To determine health status, there are special criteria for blood pressure (table).

Characteristic differences in a girl

Puberty in girls begins at the age of 10-15 years. Together with age-related changes In girls, blood pressure increases. From 10 years to 12 years, differences may be observed. An upper limit of 120 is considered to be normal. Low blood pressure is more common in girls than in boys.

Differences in a boy

Teenage boys have higher blood pressure than girls.

Boys have higher blood pressure than girls. Boys from 11 to 13 years old begin to experience changes in blood pressure. You should monitor your well-being very carefully, because this age is characterized by high blood pressure (hypertension). Boys enter the stage of puberty at the age of 15 to 16 years, at which time blood pressure numbers may increase further.

For a teenager, the average criterion for blood pressure can be determined by using a specially designed expression. It is most used for 15-16 year olds and 17 year olds:

• Formula for the upper limit: 1.7 * (number of years) + 83.
• Formula for the lower limit: 1.6 * (number of years) + 42.

How to measure at home?

To measure a child’s blood pressure, it is not necessary to go to the clinic; it is enough to purchase a tonometer and do it yourself (semi-automatic or automatic is more convenient). Correct result can be obtained subject to certain rules:

• Maintain consistency of measurements over time (must be the same each time).
• The body position is always the same.
• Be sure to ensure that the measurement cuff is positioned correctly (two fingers are placed between the hand and the cuff).
• Carefully monitor the tonometer needle (it starts moving at the numbers indicating the upper limit and ends at the lower limit).
• If you have doubts about the correctness of the measurement, you need to repeat the procedure.

Possible changes

Unstable hormonal background may cause pressure surges.

Deviations from the norm occur not only in adults, they also occur in adolescents. The situation is aggravated by the individual physiological properties of the body, which leads to changes: it increases (hypertension) or decreases (hypotension). Any deviation from the conventional norm is not always normal. The situation may indicate functional disorders in organism. But there are situations when physiological transformations influence horse racing.

Why does it rise?

Children's high blood pressure is divided into 2 types:

• primary, occurs for no apparent reason;
• secondary, as a consequence of the underlying disease.

The primary form occurs repeatedly in both children aged 8 years and adolescents aged 12-16 years. This situation is not considered a disease, because a significant part of cases is the body’s reaction to hormonal changes, emotional condition. Most often, the reasons influencing the increase are the following:

• incorrect daily routine;
• little time is allocated for rest;
• emotional overload or fatigue;
• the girl has hormonal imbalances as a result of menstruation;
• heredity.

It is important to monitor changes so that maintaining high blood pressure does not cause dysfunction of the cardiovascular system.

In the secondary form, it is necessary to find out the cause that provoked the changes and treat the leading pathology. After eliminating the pathology, the pressure returns to normal on its own. IN in rare cases this doesn't happen. It is important to understand that complaints from a child with high blood pressure may not be heard. At increased rates It is necessary to take control measurements every 2 weeks.