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Date Posted: 07:14:37 08/26/04 Thu
Author: J.R.Smith, c.f.t.,s.f.t., p.n.s. - ISSA, USSA, ISFN
Subject: New Hypertension Guidelines Aim at Childhood Obesity


New Hypertension Guidelines Aim at Childhood Obesity


New York Times Syndicate

By Nicloe Foy

Tuesday, August 17, 2004



SAN ANTONIO -- Children whose blood pressure is inching toward dangerously high levels can now be diagnosed as having pre-hypertension under newly revised national guidelines.

The move is meant to sound alarm over the links between the childhood obesity epidemic and an increase in children with high blood pressure.

An estimated 5 percent or more of all children have high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease, stroke and heart failure.

Studies have shown that the growing number of American children considered overweight or obese over the past decade has been accompanied by a disturbing rise in high blood pressure levels.

The new pre-hypertension category will allow physicians to warn parents about the problems associated with rising blood pressure levels in children -- particularly those who can make lifestyle changes to avoid further health issues, said Dr. Michael Foulds, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center here.

"The intent is to make everyone aware that these children are at great risk," Foulds said. "You want to find out as early as possible if a child's blood pressure is headed in the wrong direction." Dr. Richard Wayne, a pediatrician and the administrator of Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital here, noted heart health, or lack thereof, begins early.

"Parents should really be aware that for children with high blood pressure, their outlook as an adult is not good," he said.

Physicians use a formula that takes into account a child's age, height percentile and gender to determine appropriate blood pressure ranges.

The guidelines stress that physicians should begin screening children for high blood pressure at age 3.

That recommendation was in a similar report by the National High Blood Pressure Education Working Group in 1996.

The same group published the recent recommendations in this month's issue of Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In addition to the new pre-hypertension category, the report outlined more specifically how physicians should measure and respond to children with high blood pressure.

"This goes to another level to provide information about when a child is seen with an elevated reading," said Dr. Bonita Falkner, chairwoman of the working group.

Children with high blood pressure must first be evaluated for any identifiable causes such as kidney failure, diabetes, lipid disorders, cholesterol disorders or sleep apnea, Falkner said.

The report also recommended any child with high blood pressure get an echocardiogram to determine damage, if any, to the heart.

Hypertension can cause the heart's left pumping chamber to thicken, which can lead to congestive heart failure.

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