The amount of blood pressure is affected by the work of the heart and the tone of the arteries, so it can vary depending on the intensity of physical and emotional stress and, of course, disease. If blood pressure changes under the influence of these causes, then it normalizes over time. A situation may become dangerous when a violation of blood pressure occurs, it would seem, for no apparent reason, over several months. Particularly serious consequences of such a persistent change in blood pressure can threaten children.
To begin with, it is worth understanding what normal blood pressure in children is. The norm depends on the age of the child. It can be determined using the following approximate calculations. Adding to twice the age of the child a value in the range from 80 to 90, we get the upper limit of blood pressure. The lower bound is approximately two-thirds of the upper bound. These calculations are approximate. Doctors use special tables that take into account permissible pressure fluctuations for each age. Therefore, the question of what normal pressure in children should be addressed, taking into account all the individual characteristics of each child.
Blood pressure is important to be able to measure correctly. First of all, if the child has just played outdoor games, let him calm down. Physical activity and strong emotions activate the heart, therefore, by measuring the pressure in this state, you can get increased rates. It does not matter if the child is sitting or lying down while measuring pressure, the main thing is that all subsequent measurements should be carried out in the same position. The correct size of the cuff of the tonometer is very important, otherwise measurement errors are inevitable. If its width is greater than 2/3 of the length of the shoulder, then even normal blood pressure in children can be incorrectly shown on the device.
The procedure for measuring pressure itself does not differ from the same procedure in adults, however, difficulties can arise with very young children, since they cannot be stationary for a long time.
How is pressure in children disturbed? The norm in childhood is most often slightly exceeded. An increase in blood pressure is called hypertension. Usually this phenomenon is observed in children who are overweight, prone to obesity. The consequences of a prolonged increase in pressure, even if it does not exceed the norm too much, are negative, as changes in the vessels and heart occur. The vessels begin to narrow, and, consequently, the flow of blood to the tissues decreases. Then the walls of the vessels thicken, and this is an irreversible process. All this leads to malnutrition of tissues, and narrowing of blood vessels leads to a new round of pressure increase. The heart is forced to work almost to the limit of its capabilities in order to support the process of tissue nutrition. As a result, the heart muscle increases and its blood supply becomes insufficient. Over time, all these processes can lead to the development of heart failure. Other serious consequences of hypertension can be kidney and liver disease.
Hypertension can be primary as well as secondary, i.e. caused by other diseases. They are treated differently, so it is very important to conduct a full range of necessary examinations in order to correctly determine why the pressure is increased. In children, the norm, depending on age, can range from 80/50 (in infants) to 110/70 (in adolescents).
Lowering blood pressure in children is less common. This usually occurs after a serious illness and is manifested by the following symptoms: constant general weakness and fatigue, headache, sweating during exercise. Children hardly get up after a night's sleep, and even fainting may occur when a sharp rise from horizontal to vertical. In such cases, it is necessary, first of all, to conduct a thorough examination of the child in order to exclude heart disease. But what if no serious diseases are detected, but symptoms are still observed due to the fact that the pressure in children is reduced ? The norm can be achieved if you drink one cup of coffee in the morning (of course, this advice applies only to older children). Hardening procedures and a gradual increase in physical activity will also help.
Drug therapy for hypotension, as well as for hypertension, can only be prescribed by a doctor correctly.