Hypertension affects 3.5 million children and adolescents in Brazil; know how to care

Many people believe that the arterial hypertension, one chronic disease that appears silently and has no cure, is directly related to age. In fact, it affects around 60% of elderly people in Brazil. However, his diagnosis is becoming a reality increasingly present among younger people, given that it is worth warning the National Hypertension Day: at least 3.5 million children and adolescents they are hypertensive in the country, according to the Brazilian Society of Hypertension (SBH).

+ Mortality from high blood pressure reaches the highest rate in the last 10 years

Cardiologist Ciro Jones highlights that the increase may be related to two factors: heredity (genetics) and unhealthy habits in childhood and youth.

“Children of a hypertensive father and mother are more likely to develop hypertension throughout their lives, often even earlier,” he said.

In the case of young women, increased blood pressure may be related to the use of oral contraceptives, according to the member of the SBH scientific council, cardiologist Luiz Bortolotto. If it causes an increase in pressure, it must be replaced with another contraceptive method.

+ WHO report shows impact of high blood pressure

Furthermore, there are some differences in the risk factors for developing the condition according to age group, highlights Bortolotto. According to him, although hypertension is a silent disease in many cases, in children it causes more symptoms: recurrent headache, shortness of breath, chest pain and nosebleeds. Adults can also present the same symptomatology, however its incidence is lower.

“The main factor that contributes to hypertension among young people, for example, is weight gain, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle; in children and adolescents, in addition to the causes mentioned, there are changes in the kidney, thyroid glands and congenital causes vascular diseases, such as narrowing of the aorta, which help to develop the condition”, explains

Diabetes and atherosclerosis (fatty plaques) can cause the disease in both children and adults. The SBH specialist considers young people to be between 18 and 30 years old; and children, all under 18 years of age.

Even if you are thin, can you have hypertension?

Yes. According to cardiologist Nabil Ghorayeb, patients who have diabetes and atherosclerosis (fatty plaques) in the blood vessels that irrigate the kidneys can become hypertensive even if they are not overweight. Furthermore, according to Bortollotto, the use of illicit drugs can increase blood pressure in young people. Ghorayeb adds that an unregulated diet, with a lot of fried food, fat and, above all, a lot of sodium (salt) consumption, increases blood pressure levels regardless of your Body Mass Index (BMI) – a measure responsible for measuring thinness and overweight. and obesity.

How is the diagnosis made?

To make the diagnosis, Bortollotto emphasizes that the most effective method is pressure measurement. In the case of children, there is equipment made especially for that age group, as their arms are thinner. The recommendation is that pediatricians measure patients’ blood pressure from the age of 3, and before that if the child presents symptoms or is premature.

In some situations, to confirm the diagnosis, it is possible to request Mapa24h – a test that monitors pressure to check the history of fluctuations and peaks throughout a day. The diagnostic method is recommended mainly among young people, according to Luiz, who need to check their blood pressure at least once a year.

When is a person considered to have high blood pressure?

In the case of young people, when their blood pressure is equal to or greater than 140 by 90 (or 14 by 9) in repeated measurements. For children, there are other values, which vary according to their age and stature (their height).

Treatment and prevention

To treat hypertension, it is necessary to consider the severity of the condition. In some cases, according to Bortolotto, where the blood pressure index is directly dependent on lifestyle, adopting a healthy diet, physical exercise, weight reduction, stopping smoking, avoiding alcohol and stress can also reduce blood pressure. pressure indices.

However, in some cases, if hypertension is chronic, the patient needs to take medication for life. In the case of young people, the most recommended are beta-blockers and inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system – which help to reduce and control blood pressure. The inhibitor is contraindicated for women of childbearing age, as it has the potential to cause problems during pregnancy, if they become pregnant.