High Blood Pressure in Children

High Blood Pressure, Salt Intake and Your Child’s Heart

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High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is usually seen in adults, but pediatricians and pediatric cardiologists are seeing this more often in children. Higher blood pressure means the pressure in the blood vessels is increased, causing the heart and other organs to work harder. This can put people at a higher risk for chronic illnesses including, stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, vision changes and damage to blood vessels.

While high blood pressure in children should be checked out by a pediatrician to help determine the cause, there are some important things you can do at home which can help many children with high blood pressure. Pediatric experts encourage families to get regular check-ups, eat heart healthy foods and if there is concern about high blood pressure, to watch your child’s salt intake.

High Blood Pressure, Salt Intake and Your Child's Heart

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Staying up-to-date on your child’s annual checkups is also crucial to ensure they are maintaining a healthy blood pressure. According to the CDC, one in 10 children have elevated blood pressure, putting them at risk for long-term heart disease and stroke. When your sodium or salt intake increases, so can  blood pressure, so reducing sodium intake can have a big impact on health in people with high blood pressure.

Healthy diets are important in helping prevent high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity. Often times, just looking at the salt and sugar content in foods can make a big difference in combating some of these diseases. Start by choosing meals and snacks, like fruits and vegetables that are low in sodium and contain less added sugar. Also, offer water with meals instead of soda, juice or sports drinks.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams of salt per day (1 teaspoon), but many are surprised to find out how much salt exists in a lot of foods we eat, including:

  • Deli meats/sandwiches
  • Pancake mixes/baking mixes
  • Coffee drinks/energy drinks
  • Chips/crackers/cookies
  • Pizza
  • Soups
  • Frozen foods

Bottom line – the more unprocessed food you can eat, the better. When possible, choose fresh fruits and vegetables and minimally processed meats and grains. With that said, it’s important to choose foods without a can or a package, but remember to read the food label to find out how much salt and sugar are in what you eat.

*Presented by Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital