Rising Rates of High Blood Pressure Among Children and Adolescents Raise Health Concerns

A recent study has found that the prevalence of high blood pressure among children and adolescents has doubled over the last 20 years, raising alarms about the health of upcoming generations.

Published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, a journal focused on pediatric medicine, the research indicates that approximately 3% of children had high blood pressure in 2000. By 2020, this figure increased to 6%, impacting around 114 million individuals under the age of 19.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and Zhejiang University in China identified obesity as the primary contributor to high blood pressure in youth. They noted that 20% of obese children experience high blood pressure, compared to significantly lower rates in non-obese children, marking an increase of up to eight times.

The findings also suggest that 9% of children exhibit concealed symptoms of high blood pressure, indicating that while their readings may appear normal during medical visits, their blood pressure can spike at other times. Furthermore, 8% of youths show signs of pre-hypertension, placing them at risk for developing high blood pressure later in life.

This study analyzed 96 research papers encompassing over 443,000 children across 21 countries, lending credibility to its findings.

One researcher emphasized that these results serve as a wake-up call for healthcare professionals, while also noting that advancements in monitoring and preventive strategies could help reverse this trend.

The study underscores the necessity of maintaining a balanced diet, participating in regular physical activity, and monitoring blood pressure from an early age to mitigate the risks associated with this often-overlooked health issue.