High Blood Pressure or hypertension is a risk factor for heart and kidney diseases, as well as strokes. In fact, more than a million heart attacks and a half a million strokes are caused in part by high blood pressure. Most people think high blood pressure affects only adults. That’s not the case however. For some children, high blood pressure is caused by problems with kidneys or heart. Poor lifestyle habits, such as unhealthy diet and lack of exercise, can contribute to high blood pressure. High blood pressure in children has become a natural extension of the nationwide obesity epidemic.
According to 2008 data, about one in three adults have high blood pressure, yet only about half are being treated for it. Fortunately, you can find out if you have high blood pressure by having your blood pressure checked regularly. If it is high, you can then take steps to lower it.