Although heart disease is rare in children, they should still have their blood pressure checked regularly. Blood pressure is used to measure the overall cardiovascular health of the patient and can help predict the likelihood of developing heart or artery problems in the future.
Normal Measurements
The normal blood pressure numbers for children change as they get older and grow. Older children normally have higher blood pressure readings and increased height is also linked with higher blood pressure readings. Males also generally have higher blood pressure than females of the same age and height.
Percentiles
Blood pressure guidelines are typically broken down by percentile, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute reports. A child who is in the 75th percent of height is taller than 75 percent of boys at the same age. Similarly, blood pressure guidelines are often broken down into the 50th, 90th, 95th and 99th percentile.
Indications for Measurements
Children should be evaluated for high blood pressure early in life, as high blood pressure can result in heart trouble later in life. The American Heart Association recommends that all children older than 2 have their blood pressure checked as a part of routine checkups.
