Dr. Muntner, an epidemiologist in New Orleans, reported in a 2004 article in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" that that high blood pressure, or hypertension, in teenagers increased from 1 percent to 5 percent between 1989 and 2002. In the past, high blood pressure in teenagers was most often due to heart or kidney problems; now most cases of high blood pressure in teenagers are classified as primary hypertension, which has no clearly identifiable cause, according to the MayoClinic.com. Various risk factors can contribute to the development of hypertension in teenagers, as well as in adults.
Family History and Origin
High blood pressure tends to run in families, notes MayoClinic.com. Therefore, teenagers who have parents or grandparents with high blood pressure may be at an increased risk. High blood pressure is particularly common among African-Americans, often developing at an earlier age than it does in Caucasians, according to MayoClinic.com. Serious complications, such as stroke and heart attack, also are more common in African-Americans.
Obesity
Being overweight or obese can contribute to hypertension because there is more tissue that needs to be supplied with blood, oxygen and nutrients, so the amount of blood increases to meet the increased demand, notes MayoClinic.com. As the volume of blood increases, so does the pressure on artery walls. Obesity is also normally associated with being sedentary or inactive, and lack of exercise contributes to obesity and increases the chance of high blood pressure, notes KidsHealth, a publication sponsored by the Nemours Foundation. In addition, according to MayoClinic.com, people who are inactive tend to have higher heart rates, which results in the heart working harder with each contraction and exerting stronger forces on the arteries.
Poor Nutrition
Poor nutrition can also contribute to hypertension. Teenagers may not be getting adequate nutrients from their diet, or they may be getting too much of nutrients like sodium. Excessive sodium intake can cause the body to retain fluid, which increases blood pressure, notes MayoClinic.com. Not getting enough potassium can also result in an accumulation of sodium because potassium helps to balance the amount of sodium in cells. Finally, inadequate vitamin D intake can possibly help contribute to the development of high blood pressure. MayoClinic.com reports that researchers think vitamin D may affect an enzyme produced by the kidneys that affects blood pressure, although more study is required.
Considerations
High blood pressure, or hypertension, can be present for many years without any symptoms, notes MayoClinic.com, and therefore blood pressure should be checked regularly. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
References
- Mayo Clinic: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Risk Factors
- Mayo Clinic: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Causes
- KidsHealth: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Trends in blood pressure among children and adolescents; Dr. P. Muntner, P, et al; 2004
