Children's
Blood Pressure Rising
In the May 5, 2004 issue of
the Journal of the American Medical Association comes a study report that
shows that blood-pressure levels are rising among young Americans. The
study, suggested that the increase is partially attributable to an increased
prevalence of children being overweight.
More than 5,500 children
were involved in the study. All of the children were between the age of 8 to
17. The study was taken from 1988 to 1994 and again in 1999 and 2000. In
that span of time, the blood pressure readings for the group had risen from
an average blood pressure reading of 104 / 58 to an average of 106 / 61.
Paul Muntner of Tulane
University in New Orleans, chief author of the report, commented, "These
results suggest that in another 10 to 20 years we will be facing much higher
rates of hypertension, heart disease and stroke as these children become
adults." He continued by saying, " We assume a lot of the increase in blood
pressure levels is related to changes in the way children are eating and
exercising.”
In the report, researchers
said less than 30 percent of the overall blood-pressure increase noted in
the study can be attributed to weight gain. The study recommended fighting
high blood pressure among children and adolescents with programs that
include weight control, increased physical activity, and changes in diet.
“Such interventions could have a profoundly positive impact on the
prevalence of high blood pressure in the United States,” the report said.
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