My Daughter Has High Blood Pressure?

Question

She Is Only 13 Does not have diabetes and is only 109lb. at 5`5..What could help bring it down? Besides baby aspirin

Answer 1

This article will help you out:

Treating High Blood Pressure

If an underlying illness is causing hypertension, treating that illness may be enough to get the blood pressure back to normal levels. If there's no underlying illness, your child's doctor may recommend weight loss, increased intake of fruits and vegetables, decreased salt intake, increased exercise, and even relaxation techniques. Kids with hypertension should also quit or never start smoking, which can worsen the long-term associated heart problems.

Most doctors prefer not to prescribe medication for children with mild hypertension. However, in cases in which lifestyle changes do not improve the condition, medications may be necessary.

Exercise and participation in organized sports is encouraged for all patients whose hypertension is not severe or is well-controlled. In fact, staying fit is the key to both weight and blood pressure control. If your child is overweight, an ongoing weight-loss program monitored by your child's doctor and a minimum of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day may be recommended. Kids who have severe hypertension should not, however, participate in weight- and power-lifting, bodybuilding, or strength training until their blood pressure is under control and a doctor OKs it.

Although severe hypertension is rare in kids, even mild to moderate hypertension over time can cause damage to the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels. Identifying and treating high blood pressure in children will help prevent this damage before it occurs.

The doctor has prescribed baby aspirin to keep the blood thin and to prevent any cardiac problem.

It might be secondary to some other disease.
Omega3 diet will help her e.g fish.
Stop fat, salt, no more chocolates/sugars, red meat and regular physical.
It will definitely bring her BP to normal.

Answer 2

Hypertension in a young person like this can be caused by a vascular problem near the kidneys or a growth behind them on the adrenal glands. She needs to have a firm diagnosis and cause. In the meantime, have a nurse take her bp in both arms and both legs. It should be nearly the same bilaterally--right arm almost the same as left arm, right leg almost the same as left leg. If not, you need to see a doctor immediately about a possible vascular problem.
And she should have a scan to check her kidneys.

My last suggestion would be to avoid caffiene and make sure she hasn't been exposed to uppers or other illicit drugs.

Answer 3

Low fat, low cholesterol, low refined (added) sugar, and most of all low salt (sodium) diet along with physical exercise is the best idea for lower BP. It is also reccomended for better health over all. Exercise does not have to be anything fancy or hard. A 30 minute walk every day is enough. Aspirin does little to lower blood pressure. Aspirin is intended to help thin the blood and help prevent clotting in those with high risk for heart disease.

Here are some links that may help:

AHA - High Blood Pressure in Children #1
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=214

AHA - High Blood Pressure in Children #2
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2130

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS - High Blood Pressure in Children
http://www.aap.org/pubed/ZZZ1B14HGDC.htm?%E2%8A%82_cat=107

Mayo Clinic - High blood pressure and children #1
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00049

Mayo Clinic - High blood pressure and children #2
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00080

Kids Health for Parents - High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/hypertension.html

Terry

Answer 4

cut down on foods high in salt, and no drinks with caffeine... they raise blood pressure and its the easiest way to start

Answer 5

Excercise and diet (low sodium, high potassium, low fat) beside hypertensive drugs. Drugs given by doctor, depends on her blood pressure, so it's upto doctor.

Here, good site about hypertensive diet (DASH : Diet Approaches to Stop Hypertension) :
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09318.html
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/prevent/h_eating/h_eating.htm

Excercise :
http://www.acefitness.org/fitfacts/fitfacts_display.aspx?itemid=110

Answer 6

See a doctor. Consider a vegetarian diet and cut out those spices. Especially sprinkling salt on top of cooked food.

Answer 7

See a doctor ASAP. Her hypertension may be secondary to other cause i.e. kidney problem

Answer 8

If you are a smoker, stop.

lose weight

If you love salty snack, cut it down.

If you use alcohol to control stress, restrict its use.

Reduce stress