Hypertension is a silent disease that, according to the Ministry of Health, kills 300,000 people in Brazil per year. The problem affects around 32% of Brazilians over 18 years of age, but it can also affect children – mainly due to the global increase in childhood obesity. For both adults and children, the commitment is to increase the number of early diagnoses, track risk factors, make patients aware of healthy habits, and guide them to adopt a lifestyle based on a balanced diet.
Puberty is the period of life in which hypertension can manifest itself at an early stage. However, the signs may come earlier. Pediatric cardiologist Mayra Moreira says that primary hypertension can manifest itself around the age of six. “It is essential hypertension, the most common cause. Secondary disease, the result of congenital heart disease and kidney disease, can manifest itself from birth.”
In the case of primary hypertension, according to Mayra, the main risk factors for children are: overweight, obesity, lack of physical activity associated with prolonged screen time, unhealthy eating habits, and family history of hypertension. “But there is no doubt that the main factor is obesity”, she emphasizes.
The diagnosis of hypertension in a child should require the same care as in an adult, despite its particularities. “Children have peculiarities in terms of the genesis of hypertension, unlike adults. Therefore, follow-up with a pediatric cardiologist is essential to establish specific care for each child,” she says.
The issue of symptoms in children also manifests itself in a peculiar way. “Hypertension in children is usually asymptomatic, except for high blood pressure on physical examination. Therefore, blood pressure should be monitored annually, starting at three years of age. This highlights the importance of consultation with a pediatric cardiologist for prevention and adequate monitoring of blood pressure”, he highlights.
The cardiologist also warns that measuring a child’s blood pressure involves a specific device for each age group. “Measuring a child’s blood pressure with adult and digital devices is not appropriate and can lead to diagnostic error,” she says. Mayra emphasizes that essential arterial hypertension in children is a diagnosis of exclusion.
“The pediatric cardiologist needs to exclude other diagnoses to then determine the genesis of hypertension. Drug treatment is restricted to some cases. We usually start treatment with guidance on lifestyle, diet, body weight and physical exercise,” he explains.
Endocrinologist Taísa Macedo highlights that obesity is still the factor that makes children more vulnerable to developing hypertension. “Obesity is the biggest risk factor for developing hypertension in children. In recent decades, it is estimated that the rate of hypertension diagnosis has doubled. A child’s blood pressure should be measured from the age of three. The greatest occurrence is from puberty onwards”, she says.
Rarely, says the endocrinologist, does high blood pressure present symptoms, but when it does occur, the child may complain of feeling unwell, generally feeling unwell, and having a headache. Taísa states that when the diagnosis occurs in minors, care is essentially similar to that for adults. “These are lifestyle change measures that apply to everyone: healthy eating, physical activity, sleep hygiene and reducing screen time, associated with the use of medication when necessary,” she explains.
Childhood obesity is a global public health problem with serious consequences for health and longevity in adulthood. Obese children are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, as well as type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, and respiratory diseases such as asthma, sleep apnea, among others.
High pressure
Popularly called “high blood pressure”, hypertension can affect people at any stage of life, including adolescence. Hypertension is basically characterized by a persistent increase in blood pressure levels. This happens when the blood pressure inside the vessels, in the case of arteries, reaches values considered harmful to health. As it is a chronic disease, hypertension can be controlled and treated, but there is no cure.
Experts say that one in every four Brazilians is diagnosed with the disease. Systemic Arterial Hypertension is a disease that involves a series of changes in the human body. It interferes with the process of atherosclerotic disease, which consists of the aging of vessels, impairing the functioning of various organs, such as the kidneys, cerebral and cervical vessels, in addition to weakening the heart itself.
Although 90% of cases are hereditary, other factors also influence the onset of the disease, such as obesity, stress, excessive salt consumption, high cholesterol levels, and a sedentary lifestyle. To have a good quality of life with a diagnosis of high blood pressure, it is necessary to cultivate healthy habits, undergo medical monitoring and use medication correctly.
According to the Ministry of Health, 32% of the Brazilian adult population – equivalent to 36 million individuals – have hypertension. The most serious thing is that only 50% of this population knows that they have hypertension, and only half receive treatment. Hypertension can increase the risk of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and in the long term, the development of heart failure.
The cardiologist will be able to individualize what is best for each patient. Non-drug treatment is based on lifestyle changes. The patient must begin physical activity routinely and lose weight. It is important to maintain an adequate weight and take care of your diet.
To remember and draw attention to this silent evil, the World Health Organization (WHO) established May 17th as the International Day to Prevent and Combat High Blood Pressure.
