In order to care for a child with high blood pressure, it is important to assess blood pressure at least once a month at the pharmacy, during consultations with the pediatrician or at home, using a pressure device with the infant cuff.
Generally, children who are more likely to develop high blood pressure have sedentary habits and are overweight and, therefore, should undergo a dietary re-education accompanied by a nutritionist and practice some physical exercise, such as swimming, for example.
Normally, symptoms of high blood pressure in children are rare, with constant headache, blurred vision or dizziness appearing only in the most advanced cases. Therefore, parents should assess the child's blood pressure in order to keep it below the maximum recommended values for each age, as shown in some examples in the table:
In the child, each age has a different value for the ideal blood pressure and the pediatrician has more complete tables, so it is recommended to have regular consultations, especially if the child is above the ideal weight for the age or if he complains about any of the symptoms related to high blood pressure.
Find out if your child is within the ideal weight at: How to calculate child BMI.
What to do to control high blood pressure in children
To control high blood pressure in children, parents should encourage a balanced diet, so that the child has an appropriate weight for their age and height. That is why it is important to:
- Remove the salt shaker from the table and decrease the amount of salt in the meals, replacing it with aromatic herbs, such as pepper, parsley, oregano, basil or thyme, for example;
- Avoid offering fried foods, soft drinks or processed foods, such as canned or sausages;
- Replace treats, cakes and other types of sweets with seasonal fruit or fruit salad.
In addition to feeding for high blood pressure, the practice of regular physical exercise, such as cycling, walking or swimming, is part of the treatment to control blood pressure in children, encouraging them to participate in activities that they enjoy and preventing them from getting too much. time on the computer or playing video games
How to treat blood pressure in children
Medicines to treat high blood pressure in children, such as Furosemide or Hydrochlorothiazide, for example, should only be used with a medical prescription, which usually happens when the pressure does not regulate after three months of care with food and exercise.
However, a balanced diet and regular physical activity should be maintained even after achieving the desired results because it is related to good physical and mental development.
See also how to take care of the child with diabetes in: 9 tips for taking care of the child with diabetes.
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