Blood Pressure On Rise Among U.S. Youngsters

Blood pressure among American children and teens has increased by 27 percent in a span of 13 years, a latest health study states.

The researchers examined health and nutrition data collected from over 11,600 children aged between 8 and 17 from the years 1988 to 1994 and 1999 to 2008. They found that excessive intake of salt might be a possible reason behind growing blood pressure problems in the young children.

The study published in the journal Hypertension, found that around 16 percent of youngsters had blood pressure more than the recommended level. The authors found that the tremendous change in eating habits and increased amount of processed food intake made children vulnerable to heart ailments and kidney problems in later life.

"There has been an epidemic of obesity in the past 20 years among children and adolescents," said lead author Bernard Rosner, a professor of biostatistics at Harvard Medical School, in the study.

The researchers referred these children with "elevated" blood pressure, because an official diagnosis of hypertension generally needs three high readings in a row. The analysis found that there was an increase of 35 percent of overweight boys and 33 percent of obese girls. "There were also large increases in waist circumference for boys and especially for girls," authors wrote. These children had the possibilities of "elevated" blood pressure and children with highest intake of sodium were 36 percent more likely to suffer from blood pressure.

According to the American Heart Association 97 percent of children and teens consume excessive salt. The recommended level by the AHA for sodium intake is 1,500 milligrams.

The researchers stressed the need to avoid excessive intake of salt and unhealthy food and to encourage children to have a healthy lifestyle.