How Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed in Children?
How Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed in Children? Answer: Diagnosing high blood pressure in children follows a different set of guidelines compared to diagnosing high blood pressure in adults. In adults, the measured blood pressure is compared to a set of standard numbers that serve as a “diagnosis chart.” If the measured blood pressure is above a certain cutoff number, the adult is diagnosed with high blood pressure. The charts and numbers used to diagnose high blood pressure in adults come from a large body of scientific evidence gathered over time. Research studies have examined the relationships between different levels of blood pressure and the resulting risk of problems such as heart attack or kidney damage. Because these risk profiles are well understood, it is possible to say with some certainty that a given blood pressure value is safe (normal), unsafe (Stage I), or dangerous (Stage II).
How Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed in Children?Answer: Diagnosing high blood pressure in children follows a different set of guidelines compared to diagnosing high blood pressure in adults. In adults, the measured blood pressure is compared to a set of standard numbers that serve as a “diagnosis chart.” If the measured blood pressure is above a certain cutoff number, the adult is diagnosed with high blood pressure. The charts and numbers used to diagnose high blood pressure in adults come from a large body of scientific evidence gathered over time. Research studies have examined the relationships between different levels of blood pressure and the resulting risk of problems such as heart attack or kidney damage. Because these risk profiles are well understood, it is possible to say with some certainty that a given blood pressure value is safe (normal), unsafe (Stage I), or dangerous (Stage II). Because children with high blood pressure generally don’t experience heart problems or othe
