US Kids Suffer Blood Pressure Rises, Study Finds

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Wed, 5 May 2004 05:40:22 -0400

[ivu-veg-news] U.S. Kids Suffer Blood Pressure Rises, Study Finds

 

Health - Reuters

U.S. Kids Suffer Blood Pressure Rises, Study Finds

 

http://story.news./news?tmpl=story & cid=571 & ncid=751 & e=2 & u=/nm/20040504/\

hl_nm/health_hypertension_dc

 

Tue May 4, 2004

 

By Michael Conlon

 

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Blood-pressure levels are rising among young Americans,

according to a study published on Tuesday which raises concern over potential

health problems when the children grow up.

 

The study also suggested that what children eat and how much they exercise may

be important factors -- in addition to previously recognized weight problems --

contributing to the increase.

 

" These results suggest that in another 10 to 20 years we will be facing much

higher rates of hypertension, heart disease and stroke as these children become

adults, " said Paul Muntner of Tulane University in New Orleans, chief author of

the report.

 

His study, published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association,

compared readings from two samples of children, each aged 8 to 17, taken from

1988 to 1994 and again in 1999 and 2000. In all more than 5,500 children were

involved.

 

It found that systolic levels -- the higher of the two numbers in a

blood-pressure reading -- increased an average of 1.4 millimeters of mercury

over the period of the study. The diastolic level, the lower number, rose by

3.3. The average blood pressure reading rose to 106/61 from 104/58.

 

Blood pressure is normally lower in children than adults, and normal ranges in

children vary by age and sex. In adults a range of from 120/80 to 139/89 is

considered elevated " prehypertension " by the American Heart Association.

 

Increases occurred in both readings among black, Mexican-American and white boys

and girls of all ages, the report said. Mexican-American and black children

recorded average levels about two to three points higher compared with whites,

it said.

 

Blacks in general are known to run a higher risk of blood pressure problems, for

genetic and other reasons. A separate study on Monday, published in the Archives

of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, suggested caffeinated soft drinks and other

beverages may play a role in pushing up blood-pressure levels among black

youths.

 

For Mexican-Americans studied in the Tulane report, the higher readings were due

largely to a sharper increase in the number who were overweight, the authors

said.

 

The report cited an earlier study which recently found that 15.5 percent of

adolescent U.S. boys and girls are now overweight, up from 11.3 percent of boys

and 9.7 percent of girls 15 years ago.

 

However, researchers said less than 30 percent of the overall blood-pressure

increase noted in the study can be attributed to weight gain.

 

Diet and exercise may also be a major factor, Muntner said. " We assume a lot of

the increase in blood pressure levels is related to changes in the way children

are eating and exercising, " he said.

 

For example, sodium, often found in processed foods, is a known risk factor for

increasing blood pressure.

 

The study recommended fighting high blood pressure among children and

adolescents with programs that include weight control, increased physical

activity, and changes in diet.

 

" Such interventions could have a profoundly positive impact on the prevalence of

high blood pressure in the United States, " the report said.