The normal range for pediatric vital signs can vary quite a lot depending on your child’s age and other factors. For instance, the normal infant heart rate is much higher than the normal heart rate for a 12-year-old.

they are at risk of high blood pressure – for example, because they have problems with their kidneys. ABPM tests your blood pressure regularly over 24 hours, by using a cuff attached to a portable device that's worn on your waist.Renal artery stenosis / renovascular disease (e.g., seen in neurofibromatosis type 1, Williams syndrome, Takayasu arteritis, fibromuscular dysplasia, post abdominal radiotherapy, post kidney transplantation, mid-aortic syndrome) Measuring blood pressure in young children can be challenging. Your child’s doctor or nurse will take a few measurements when your child is relaxed. Guzman-Limon M, et al. Pediatric hypertension: Diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment. Pediatric Clinics of America. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2018.09.001. Management of acute severe hypertension / hypertensive urgency without evidence of emergency (i.e., stage 2 hypertension without evidence of target-organ damage): The highest number is always the systolic pressure and it's always given first. For example, a blood pressure given as "120 over 80" or 120/80mmHg means a systolic pressure of 120mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 80mmHg. Understanding your blood pressure reading

Side effects and contraindications for the medications listed in this section are summarised in Table 4. Table 2 highlights various potential causes of hypertension, subdivided into primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. Muntner P, et al. Measurement of blood pressure in humans: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Hypertension. 2019; doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000087. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov. Accessed May 12, 2021.

Reference List

Because of this, your doctor or nurse may ask you to measure your child’s blood pressure at home. They will explain what to do and how you can report the blood pressure readings. Your child will be able to do many of the activities they usually do. Primary (or essential) hypertension, where no identifiable cause is found, is a diagnosis of exclusion in children. Children <6 years of age with elevated BP are more likely to have an established cause (secondary hypertension). Schaefer F, et al. Efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of candesartan cilexetil in hypertensive children from 1 to less than 6 years of age. J Hypertens. 2010;28(5):1083-90. Measure the BP with the child in a seated position and their arm gently supported, ideally after the child has been sitting quietly for 3 minutes (or lying supine for an infant). BP cannot be reliably assessed if the child is upset/crying. Ideally, hypertension should be confirmed with an average of three measurements on three separate occasions/days/visits. Measure height and plot on an appropriate gender-specific growth chart to establish the height percentile then refer to the BP centile chart for the appropriate gender. The normative values for BP in children are based on right arm measurements, and BP values measured from the leg should be interpreted with extreme caution. If an isolated right arm BP is found to be elevated, then BP should also be assessed in all 4 limbs to help exclude evidence of coarctation. In coarctation, the BP in the lower extremities is expected to be lower, or sometimes unmeasurable, compared with that of the right arm. The left arm BP may also be elevated if the origin of the left subclavian artery is proximal to the coarctation (occurring in most cases). You need a blood pressure cuff to measure your child’s blood pressure at home. But there’s usually no reason to measure your child’s blood pressure beyond their pediatric appointments. What is heart rate?

One of the most important aspects of a blood pressure monitor is its ability to provide consistently accurate readings. Look for the following three phrases in product descriptions when trying to determine the accuracy of the monitor: Glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism (aldosterone synthase hyperactivity or familial hyperaldosteronism type I; due to heterozygous variants in CYP11B2) Further investigations should only be considered in consultation with a general or renal paediatrician Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Accessed 9/13/2023.

The Best Blood Pressure Monitors of 2023

Blood pressure is a crucial metric that can assist you in determining your risk of a variety of health concerns. However, the often unnoticeable side effects of high blood pressure (or hypertension) make it tough to know when intervention is needed, which is why this condition is commonly called “the silent killer.” An at-home blood pressure monitor can help you keep a closer eye on this crucial health metric. By taking your own blood pressure readings regularly and documenting changes over time, you can be better equipped to manage your health for the long haul.

Saunders TJ, et al. Screen time and health indicators among children and youth: Current evidence, limitations and future directions. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy. 2017; doi:10.1007/s40258-016-0289-3. Clonidine is generally reserved for those unresponsive to ≥2 ‘standard’ antihypertensive agents (4). It acts as an α 2-adrenergic receptor agonist in the CNS, resulting in decreased sympathetic outflow and increased firing of the vagal nerve. This leads to reduced heart rate, reduced total peripheral vascular resistance, reduced venous return, and reduced BP. Clonidine is available in oral, IV and transdermal preparations.

Blood pressure can vary throughout the day, when we exercise and when we feel stress. Some children feel stress when they visit the doctor. If they feel stress and have high blood pressure, and no other symptoms of hypertension, this is called white coat hypertension. Measuring at home Treatment of primary hypertension involves lifestyle modification. The main aim is to increase energy expenditure, reduce energy intake, and limit sodium intake. Increased intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, along with low-fat dairy products, has been demonstrated to have a positive impact on BP control in CYP (6). Other beneficial measures include avoidance of caffeine (including energy drinks), alcohol and smoking. Realistically, pharmacological treatment may be initiated to help control BP whilst lifestyle modifications are implemented as it can take time before any discardable benefit becomes apparent.