High Blood Pressure in Kids
High blood pressure is a national epidemic and has been for some time. Over a third of all adult Americans have high blood pressure and most don't even know it because there are no symptoms.
High blood pressure, if untreated, can lead to stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, and eye problems.
It's amazing with all the millions of dollars spent urging men and women of the dangers of high blood pressure that so many seem unconcerned about it. Even more disheartening is that the incidence of high blood pressure in children is on the rise. This has occurred mainly in the last ten years and is mainly due to more and more children being overweight or obese.
A primary reason for the lack of awareness among many people with high blood pressure is that they do not go to the doctor on a regular basis. Maybe they can't afford to. Maybe they don't have the time. Possibly they're afraid of doctors.
Whatever the reason, the only way to reliably know if your child has high blood pressure is to have her blood pressure checked by a doctor or health care provider. It's simple, it takes almost no time, and it's important to do.
Even though heredity plays a major part in the ease at which someone develops hypertension, there are things that we all can do to decrease the chance that our kids get it or to help alleviate it once they do have it.
It all starts with diet. If your kid is a fast food junkie, she's going to have to change her ways. One of the reasons that many low income people tend to have higher blood pressures is they tend to eat more fast foods - because fast foods are comparatively inexpensive. But fast foods are typically loaded with fats and salt - the two primary diet triggers associated with high blood pressure. Change her diet.
Of course, changing a diet is easier said then done. If your daughter has eaten fast foods since a baby, her taste buds have acclimated themselves to having fatty and salty foods. This can be changed, but only with effort. This may also involve changing the diet for the entire family. Which is not a bad thing. There are plenty of good books out there on nutrition, you only have to be concerned enough to read them and to follow through with their advice.
Second, aerobic exercise is always good. It's good for helping to stave off hypertension and it's good for preventing an existing high blood pressure condition from getting worse. You should always consult your doctor before embarking your child on any exercise program. This is even truer if she suffers from hypertension.
There's no excuse for not setting up a minimal aerobic exercise program. Exercise doesn't have to be dull. It can even be incorporated in your daily routine. For example, if you and your child like shopping, bringing them with you on a brisk walk through the mall can be both enjoyable and healthy.
An added advantage of exercise is that it also helps to control and regulate appetite. So not only does it burn calories and help you to lose weight, it also helps to inhibit your appetite.
Hypertension, once developed, is a chronic, lifetime condition. It's also expensive - in both dollars and lifestyle. High blood pressure medications and treatments will cause your child thousands over her lifetime. It will also limit the activities she can do. Help protect your child's future by doing something today.
Melissa Chow is a freelance writer who writes articles relating to tension and high blood pressure. Visit her site at www.highbloodpressurearticles.com.
Related Articles:
Camps for Troubled Teens: Disciplines and Wilderness
Parents looking for a quick fix usually choose troubled teen camps. There are two types of teen camps: boot camps and summer or wilderness camps.
10 Football Coaching Tips for Kids You Can't Do Without
Football coaching for kids can be just as demanding and hard work as it is for professional managers. No matter whether you are an experienced football coach or first time manager of a kids team, you can benefit from these 10 tips to become a better soccer coach.
Are Your Kids Drinking And Driving?
Alcohol is not difficult for kids to get. Over 50% of eighth graders said it was fairly easy or very easy to obtain alcohol.
Oregon Company Partners with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to Bring Exceptional Science Kits to Exceptional Kids
Online retailer of award-winning science kits is thrilled to help create dream homes for families in need.
#1 Means the Same Thing in Any Language, FamilyFun Magazine Dubs Karito Kids Dolls as the 2007 'Number One' Toy of The Year
Whether you say it in English (number one!), Chinese (shu ma yi!), Swahili (hesabu moja!), Spanish (numero uno!) or Italian (novero una!) it all translates the same way: The best of the best. Of course, these five languages are how the dolls who make up the Karito Kids World Collection® would say it. That's because this brand new and totally unique line of dolls and books is completely international. It is a testament to the high-quality of Karito Kids World Collection that they made the 16th annual FamilyFun Toy of the Year (T.O.Y.) Awards list in their flagship year.
How To Keep Your Kids Entertained Over The Holidays.
This idea will work well as part of a school Valentine party or children?s holiday party.
Scrapbooking For Children: 8 Top Tips For Scrapbooking With Kids
Do you love the thought of scrapbooking for kids but don't know how to get started Many scrapbookers would love to scrapbook with their kids but are not sure what supplies to offer or how to keep things from getting disorganized or too messy
How To Teach Kids To Appreciate Awful Gifts
Nothing is too horrific for a parent than watching her or his child toss a gift away because "it ain't cool" within earshot of the giver. What would you do then, if you were in this pickle? You can't pretend nothing is wrong. These tips will teach you how to carry on when the problem mocks you in the face.
Boxing: A Great Sport Even For Kids
Boxing is a very demanding sport that can bring great rewards to someone that gives it everything that they have and more. If you can stick with boxing, then you will learn many very important life skills that will help you to be a better person. Also you can make a great career out of boxing, and might even become rich and famous. However if the proper respect and effort is not given, then the sport can eat you up, and spit you back out again. I started my boxing career in the Junior Golden Gloves in my city. I believe that the lessons I was taught during this time have helped to shape me into the man that I have become today.
10 Fun Projects for Your Kids Using the Computer and Printer
So often we think of the computer and printer as office tools meant for work and work alone. You may use it to make a budget, a grocery list or manage your finances, but the thought of doing something fun with your office equipment may never cross your mind. You can show the real versatility of your computer and printer to your kids by trying out some of these fun projects. They?re easy, cheap and a lot of fun to do?for both you and your kids!
Kids Birthday Party Ideas
If you're going to have a party for your kid, you want it to be memorable for the child. Too many people just go through the motions when making a party for their child and then when it's all over, you've pretty much forgotten it by the next day.
Aussie Green Teens Create Own Beauty Brand -- Bellaboo
Six teen girls from Australia have managed to balance school, studies and social life with helping to create a green skin care line for teenage girls.
Bellaboo is all natural, recyclable and ticks all the must-haves when it comes to what teen girls want from a skin care range.
Thanks to the teen girls who helped create it, Bellaboo is a company that dedicates equal energy to teen issues as it does to brand development and marketing.
Small Business Ideas for teens
As a teenager, you may be constantly looking for ways to make money. Nothing in life is free. We need to work to get money in order to buy the things we want. Still, as a teenager, it's hard to get the money we need. First of all, its hard to get a job without experience and its nearly impossible for you if you are too young. Also, even when you do get a job, you can only work part-time while you are in school and the pay is never what you would like to be.
Air Travel, Kids And Carry-Ons
After a week in the bush we were ill prepared for the long lines and heightened security that awaited us at the airport in Mombasa, Kenya. We had too much hand luggage and it was packed completely wrong. And if it weren't for a delay, we would have missed our flight home.
Moving with Kids Made Easier with Soaring Moon Books' New Release, 'My Moving Activity Journal'
For children whose families are moving, Soaring Moon Books offers "My Moving Activity Journal: Activities, Games, Crafts, Puzzles, Scrapbooking, Journaling, and Poems for Kids on the Move" by Nicole Jaeger.