High blood pressure among minors 'nearly doubled' in 20 yrs, Pg12.

Key Highlights:

• A study in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health found that high blood pressure in children and adolescents nearly doubled from 3.2% in 2000 to 6.2% in 2020, affecting 114 million globally.
• The study identified obesity as a major factor, with nearly 19% of obese children having hypertension, eight times higher than those with healthy weight.
• WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR), including India, reported the highest prevalence of isolated diastolic hypertension at 2.77%.
• Around 8% of children and adolescents now have pre-hypertension, a warning sign of potential progression to hypertension.

Detailed Insights:

• The increase in hypertension among young people is attributed to factors like high dietary sodium intake, rising obesity, low physical activity, and health disparities.
• Isolated diastolic hypertension, where only the diastolic blood pressure is elevated, is a specific concern in the SEAR region.
• Masked hypertension, which goes undetected during routine checkups, affects approximately 9.2% of children and adolescents globally, indicating underdiagnosis.
• Lifestyle factors such as poor diet, sedentary habits, stress, and irregular sleep patterns contribute to hypertension in adolescents.
• Regular screening in schools and colleges is crucial for early detection and treatment to prevent complications affecting the kidney, brain, and heart.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Hypertension: Abnormally high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Diastolic Blood Pressure: The pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.
• Pre-hypertension: Blood pressure levels higher than normal but not yet in the hypertensive range.