Blood Pressure For Kids

Most people think of high blood pressure also known as hypertension as a condition that affects older people but high blood pressure actually affects people of all ages including young children.

Blood pressure for kids. Older children can develop high blood pressure for the same reasons adults do excess weight poor nutrition and lack of exercise. Lifestyle changes such as eating a heart healthy diet and exercising more can help reduce high blood pressure in children. For healthy adult humans the systolic blood pressure should be below 120 and the diastolic blood pressure should be below 80. Bp should be measured in the right arm of a relaxed seated child.

Correct cuff size depends on arm size. Low blood pressure may be a goal for many adults but children with a lower than normal blood pressure can be facing serious danger. Practically speaking correct cuff size equals largest cuff that will fit on the upper arm with room below for the stethoscope head. But for some children medications may be necessary.

Everyone s blood pressure changes from time to time it s lower when you re asleep for example but if a child s blood pressure continually rises. However blood pressure can be very different for each person. Hypotension low blood pressure can happen in children for many reasons some of which can be easily cured dehydration while others can be more complex and life threatening disease. White coat hypertension is still a risk.

Blood pressure is usually lower for children and gets higher as a person gets older.