High blood pressure contributes to a variety of conditions including heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, and diabetes. It can also increase the likelihood that one may die from a stroke or heart attack. Today more and more children are being diagnosed with high blood pressure. The primary causes being diet and weight issues. Alarmingly more than a third of todays adolescents are overweight or obese.
These weight issues are causing children to be diagnosed with adult conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. One of the first signs of impending diagnosis may be high blood pressure.
A study published in the journal Hypertension found that dietary salt reduction could significantly reduce blood pressures in children and teens.
966 participants below the age of 18 were enrolled in a study that measured the effects of salt reduction on blood pressure for a total of 4 weeks. Blood pressure was significantly lowered in those who acheived adequate reduction in dietary salt.
On average salt intake decreased by 42 percent. The effect seemed to be immediate. And the authors stated that a continuous diet low in salt may help to decrease the normal rise in blood pressure, delaying any possible diagnosis of high blood pressure and helping to prevent the onset of other chronic health conditions that often go hand in hand with it.
Parents and healthcare providers need to pay close attention to the diet of adolescents, especially today with as many children being overweight or obese. A simple reduction in salt can make a world of difference, though it can be hard with the snacks that are popular today including chips, fried foods, and prepared luches.
Children should be encouraged to eat healthy snacks that are whole foods based such as fruit, nuts and seeds, vegetables, and low fat dairy products like yogurt and cheese.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on November 10, 2006 03:57 PM
