Blood pressure in children: normal values, reasons for increase and decrease

What is blood pressure

Blood is a physiological fluid that performs several functions in the body, the main one being the transport of nutrients to organs and tissues. Blood, as you know, moves through a complex, huge system, it is called the vascular network. During this journey, the blood exerts pressure on the vascular walls themselves. They are naturally elastic and strong. But the larger the vessel, the more significant pressure can be created inside it.

Pressure readings are supposed to be measured in the brachial artery; today this is done using a mechanical or electronic tonometer.

You must understand that this parameter is not a constant value; it changes even over the course of one day. Blood pressure (BP) levels depend on a number of factors: on the elastic properties of blood vessels, also on the strength of their resistance to blood pressure, and on the frequency of heart contractions. It affects the pressure and viscosity of blood fluid, its volume in the body.

Pressure is systolic and diastolic:

• Systole is the state of the heart at the moment of its contraction. During contraction of the stomach, a large volume of blood enters the aorta, stretching the walls of the largest vessel. They, in turn, resist, blood pressure rises and reaches a maximum.
• Diastole is the state of the heart at the moment of relaxation. After contraction of the heart muscle, the aortic valve itself closes, and its walls smoothly remove the resulting blood volume. It gradually spreads through the capillary network, losing pressure.

The difference between these two types of blood pressure is called pulse pressure. It is equal to 40-60 units (mm Hg).

Indications for daily measurements

Both high and low blood pressure are dangerous for a child. In the first case, the blood vessels wear out too quickly, the kidneys, heart, brain and other organs suffer. In the second, body tissues have difficulty receiving nutrients and oxygen.

If a child is at risk, most often the doctor advises keeping a special diary. The records will help the doctor, and the data will be more reliable than in the office, especially if the child is nervous at the sight of a white coat.

Daily blood pressure monitoring is often required:

• To detect hypertension - if you need to confirm the diagnosis, after an organ transplant, for diabetes, for kidney disease,
• During therapy for hypertension itself - to clarify the effectiveness of treatment
• In case of disorders of the nervous or endocrine system.

Risk group

What pressure a child should have normally can be determined from tables and some symptoms. There are certain conditions that increase risk and require special attention:

• Premature birth, complicated pregnancy;
• Functional heart murmur;
• Disorders of the kidneys and urinary system;
• Convulsive seizures;
• Relatives with blood pressure problems, family history;
• The child is overweight.

Many medications that are prescribed to children for the treatment of other diseases can increase blood pressure, such as immunosuppressants, NSAIDs, even medicinal plants and dietary supplements.

How to measure a child's blood pressure according to the rules

Blood pressure levels in children should be measured with special care. Still, these are not adult patients who can calmly endure any such procedure, but guys prone to self-indulgence and restlessness. The ideal option is electronic blood pressure monitors; they are quite easy to handle. But it is very important that the device is equipped with a child cuff that matches the age of the child. For infants (children under one year old), the width of the inner chamber is usually 3-5 cm.

How is a child's blood pressure measured?

1. Perform the procedure in the morning, when the child has just woken up;
2. The child should lie down, his arm, palm up, should be tilted to the side, and according to the rules it will be at the level of the heart;
3. The device cuff is placed two to three cm above the bend of the elbow;
4. One adult finger should fit between the cuff and the child's arm;
5. The phonendoscope is applied to the ulnar fossa, the pulse can be easily found there;
6. The valve closes and the air is pumped until the pulse is felt;
7. Then the valve opens slightly, you want the air to come out smoothly, at this time watch the scale of the device;
8. The first sound you hear will indicate the level of systolic pressure, and the last one will indicate the diastolic pressure.

It is advisable to write down the indications of the procedure and then show this information to the doctor. The child's blood pressure should be measured three times with an interval of 4 minutes. The most accurate will be the minimum marks.

Causes of arterial hypotension in children

Mental and psychological stress contributes to a decrease in blood pressure in a child.
Blood pressure can also decrease briefly in healthy children at different times of the day (in the early morning hours), when the body position changes. This decrease in blood pressure is called physiological . It can occur after eating, while in a stuffy room, in a state of mental or physical fatigue, and under other circumstances.

In addition, a physiological decrease in blood pressure without affecting the child’s well-being and performance may occur:

• in child athletes (outside of training);
• in children living in areas with low atmospheric pressure;
• during the period of adaptation to a hot tropical or high-mountain climate;
• due to the constitutional (hereditary) characteristics of the body.

From 4 to 10% of children have a pathological Such hypotension may be reversible or persistent. There are primary and secondary arterial hypotension.

The emergence of arterial

Many factors can contribute: hereditary predisposition, internal and external influences. These factors include:

• perinatal pathology: birth trauma, increased intracranial pressure, etc.;
• frequent respiratory infections in a child;
• sedentary lifestyle of the child;
• the presence of chronic foci of infection;
• non-compliance with the daily routine;
• mental, psychological overload and stress;
• excessive physical activity.

Clinical manifestations of arterial hypotension in children are varied. Manifestations of low blood pressure in a child may include:

• emotional instability, frequent mood swings;
• tearfulness, increased sensitivity;
• general weakness;
• increased fatigue;
• aching, pressing headache;
• dizziness (usually after sleep, during a long break between meals);
• short-term stabbing or aching pain in the heart after physical activity, in a state of fatigue.

When examining a child, you may notice severe sweating, acne, and palms that are wet and cold to the touch. Such children blush and turn pale easily.

One of the variants of primary hypotension is (and often manifests itself in children) orthostatic syndrome: a decrease in blood pressure when moving to an upright position of the body or when standing for a long time. Such a decrease in blood pressure may be associated with blood redistribution, damage to the autonomic nervous system, pathology in the posterior cranial fossa, and adrenal insufficiency.

Symptoms of orthostatic hypotension include dizziness, weakness, nausea, tinnitus, followed by blackouts and fainting. When these symptoms—harbingers of fainting—appear, the child should go out into the fresh air (or into the shade) and sit with his head down. These manifestations are associated with oxygen starvation of the brain due to insufficient blood supply.

Fainting most often occurs in the following situations:

• standing for a long time (especially in the sun or in a stuffy room), for example, in public overloaded transport in the summer, on the line at school;
• when breathing deeply (for example, during a medical examination);
• when suddenly rising from bed after sleep;
• when nervous (for example, when taking blood for analysis or getting vaccinated).

As a rule, when low blood pressure is detected, children and adolescents are diagnosed with vegetative-vascular dystonia of the hypotonic type. The main factors contributing to its occurrence are overload (physical and mental) and stress. Hypotension leads to decreased performance, so the child needs to consult a pediatrician, neuropsychiatrist and prescribe a correction.

Secondary arterial hypotension develops with any disease and is one of its manifestations. The most common reasons for this are:

1. Diseases of the endocrine system:

• hypothyroidism (lack of synthesis of thyroid hormones);
• insufficient production of pituitary hormones;
• diabetes.

2. Infectious diseases and intoxications.

3. Allergic reactions of the body.

4. Heart diseases (heart defects, myocarditis, heart failure).

5. Traumatic brain injuries.

6. Blood loss (including due to heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding).

7. Anemia (“anemia”).

8. Lack of vitamins.

9. Hypotrophy (lack of body weight).

10. Side effect of drug treatment.

Somatic diseases also contribute to a decrease in blood pressure: bronchial asthma, neurodermatitis, chronic tonsillitis.

Normal blood pressure in babies up to one year old

What should be the blood pressure in infants? The blood vessels in children are elastic, the network of small vessels is quite developed, and this suggests that blood pressure in children will be lower than the same parameter in adults. The younger the child, the lower the numbers the tonometer will show.

Blood pressure in children of the newborn period is represented by indicators of 60-96/40-50 mm Hg. Art., but by the time of 1 month these values ​​increase rapidly.

So, for a one-month-old baby, the normal blood pressure will be 80-112/40-74 units. And throughout the first year of the baby’s life, these readings will increase. By the age of one year, the pressure parameters will be from 80/40 to 112/74 mm Hg. Art. This range is dictated by the weight and height of the baby. Such a significant increase in pressure is due to an increase in vascular tone.

What should a mother of a baby know?

1. To determine whether the baby’s blood pressure is normal, you need to apply the formula 76 + 2 n (n is the number of months of the child);
2. If after the initial measurement the numbers are not normal, then you should not be upset right away; blood pressure readings are affected by many factors (weather, severe crying, sleep, the feeling of pain, etc.);
3. To measure blood pressure in babies, you only need to use a suitable children's cuff;
4. In children under one year of age, blood pressure should only be measured while lying down.

Diagnosis of blood pressure abnormalities in children

To detect an increase or decrease in blood pressure compared to the age norm, the following diagnostic methods are used:

• a survey of the child and mother, during which the presence and nature of complaints are clarified, the course of pregnancy and childbirth, the presence of high or low blood pressure in family members, illnesses suffered by the child, etc.;
• measuring blood pressure in both arms; in the next 2 weeks, blood pressure is regularly measured 3 times a day at home in order to clarify daily blood pressure fluctuations;
• examination of the child;
• examination: examination of the fundus, ECG, examination of cerebral vessels (rheoencephalography), general blood and urine analysis, biochemical blood test (renal complex) - according to indications, blood test for hormones (if necessary), etc.;
• consultation with a neurologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist and other specialists (as indicated).

What factors influence blood pressure readings?

Physiological points of blood pressure fluctuation in childhood according to the so-called formula calculation system will be indicators of up to 30 units in the increasing zone.

What affects blood pressure levels?

1. Location. Children living in tropical or, for example, mountainous climates are at risk of low blood pressure.
2. Salt concentration in food. When it comes to infants, the amount of salt depends on the mother’s diet.
3. Time of birth of the child. Babies born before their due date usually have lower blood pressure.
4. Height. The higher the child, the higher his blood pressure.
5. Activity. It is believed that the more active the baby, the higher his blood pressure will be, but this applies to small children. For older guys who regularly play sports, blood pressure levels will be physiologically reduced.

In a word, there are so many nuances that explain normal blood pressure in children that sometimes the parent himself is simply not worth deciphering the results.

In order not to cause unnecessary panic, it is wiser to consult a pediatrician

Summary for parents

Parents should not be under the misconception that upward or downward deviations in blood pressure can only occur in adults.

You should not ignore your child’s complaints of headache, fatigue and weakness or try to relieve headaches with drugs familiar to adults. The same “harmless” Citramon, which contains Aspirin, like Aspirin itself, can lead to irreversible fatty degeneration of the liver.

If a child has the complaints listed in the article, or behavioral changes are noted, and even more so if an increase or decrease in blood pressure is detected, you should consult a doctor and find out the cause of these deviations. On the recommendation of a doctor, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate the pathology identified in the child.

Do sex differences affect blood pressure levels?

Sometimes the difference in pressure markers depends on the gender of the child. For example, throughout the first year of life, girls and boys will have approximately the same blood pressure. But later on in girls, blood pressure increases slightly, the maximum difference is achieved at 3-4 years. At the age of five years, the parameters usually level out, the difference is leveled out.

From five to 10 years of age, the situation changes: the blood pressure levels in girls are again slightly higher than the blood pressure levels in boys. After 10 years, the picture is the opposite: the pressure rises a little higher in boys, and this “leadership” is consolidated until the age of 16-17.

Features of the measurement technique

If a child has deviations from blood pressure norms, then parents will have to learn how to take measurements themselves.

A young child may perceive measuring pressure with a tonometer as a medical procedure, get scared and cry, then the readings will be overestimated. The child must be explained that this is not a treatment, this is simply what both children and adults are supposed to do. Electronic devices are more convenient to use, but when measuring children under 12 years of age they often give incorrect results.

It is better for very young children to lie down, but an older child can be seated. The hand is placed palm up on the table (the angle between the shoulder and the hand is approximately 90°). The legs should also not dangle; it is better to place them on a stand.

The cuff is not attached tightly so that an adult’s finger can pass freely. If you use adult cuffs, the result will be inaccurate, especially in infants. Special children's sizes required. The approximate size for purchasing a children's cuff is ¾ of the distance from the elbow to the armpit.

If measurements are taken for the first time, both hands are checked, and in the future the pressure is measured on the hand with higher values. Blood pressure monitoring is carried out in the morning and evening, measured once, then again after 3-4 minutes. It is better to do this in the morning, soon after waking up, or an hour after a walk or feeding. It is not recommended to measure the baby's blood pressure after eating, when he is capricious and crying.

Blood pressure measurements in children

Why is blood pressure low in children?

Low blood pressure can sometimes be a physiological norm. And this situation is connected with some nuances of the function of the central nervous system, when its parasympathetic link becomes more active. If this is exactly what is observed, then no disruptions in the child’s well-being occur.

If the pressure is pathologically reduced, then its negative manifestations are obvious:

• Reduced activity;
• Dizziness and weakness;
• Appetite disorders;
• Headaches of varying intensity;
• Tendency to frequent fainting;
• Vegetative failures.

What is the reason for this condition? The blood pressure regulation system is disrupted, and this problem is intensified under the influence of a number of factors. The first of them is the pathology of pregnancy, when while still in the womb the baby suffered from problems with the mother’s health. In babies born prematurely, blood pressure is usually lower than normal.

Reduced blood pressure is also affected by: an increase in intracranial pressure values, psycho-emotional stress, inadequate volume of muscle loads, disturbances in activity and rest, unfavorable living conditions, as well as times of high instability of hormonal levels.

Symptoms of hypotension

Children suffering from low blood pressure often sweat, have a decreased appetite, feel nauseous, and often feel sore or dizzy. Such children are inactive, emotionally unstable, and get tired much faster than their peers. They usually have cool, moist palms.

If you have such symptoms, it is recommended to consult a doctor - a neurologist, cardiologist, or endocrinologist. If it turns out that hypotension is not caused by a disease, then there are many ways to normalize it without medications. Most often, doctors recommend general strengthening activities, sports, walks, good sleep, proper nutrition, gymnastics, contrast showers, and herbal medicine.

Attention! Children under 12 years of age should not be given medications without a doctor’s recommendation; for headaches, the same citramone, which is harmless for an adult, can cause harm.

Low blood pressure in a teenager is sometimes associated with changes in hormonal levels; this is an age-related phenomenon, and by adulthood it normalizes. But if a teenager has low blood pressure and a rapid pulse, this combination is dangerous. This is beyond the acceptable limits; the pulse is much higher than normal with low blood pressure and requires urgent medical attention - it may be one of the symptoms of cardiac pathology.

Average heart rate

Why is there an increase in blood pressure in children?

In some cases, an increase in blood pressure is reliably accurately physiologically dictated by the norm. For example, this is characteristic of any stressful situation, increased emotional background. Blood pressure also increases after serious physical activity, and in cases of injury, blood pressure readings also increase. These situations are associated with a temporary increase in pressure.

But there are quite a lot of negative cases when blood pressure increases as a result of organ pathologies and serious illnesses. And there is a whole group of such reasons.

Renal pathologies associated with increased blood pressure:

• Nephropathies of any origin;
• Underdeveloped kidney tissue;
• Benign and malignant formations;
• Glomerulonephritis – inflammation of the glomeruli of the organ;
• Glomerulosclerosis – cases when organ tissues are transformed;
• Hydronephrosis - the pyelocaliceal structure of the organ increases, the glomeruli are compressed, the kidney “turns off” over time;
• Alport syndrome is a complex pathology in which not only the kidneys are affected, but also hearing and vision.

Endocrine diseases can also cause pathological increases in blood pressure. This includes hypothyroidism and increased function of the adrenal cortex. Pressure also increases with certain defects of the nervous system - these are tumor processes, diseases of an infectious-inflammatory nature, as well as Day-Reilly disease.

They negatively affect blood pressure values ​​and vascular pathologies. These include some disorders of underdevelopment of the aorta, vasculitis, malformations, Takayasu’s disease.

Treatment of arterial hypertension and hypotension in children

Treatment of deviations from normal age-related blood pressure levels is divided into non-drug and drug therapy.

Non-drug treatment

Non-drug treatment is practically the same for high and low blood pressure:

• normalization of the psychological situation at school, creation of a calm, comfortable atmosphere at home;
• maintaining an age-appropriate daily routine (including on weekends); limiting watching movies and computer games (especially in the evening before bedtime);
• elimination of physical and mental overload, alternation of work and rest; it is necessary to reconsider the study load (perhaps, refuse classes with a tutor, parallel studies at a music school, etc.);
• physical activity of children in uncomplicated cases is not limited; regular physical education is recommended; swimming, horse riding, daily stay in the fresh air for at least 2 hours and walking for 30 minutes are indicated;
• healthy lifestyle, preventing adolescents from smoking and drinking alcohol and drugs;
• a complete balanced diet, 4-5 meals a day, daily consumption of at least 300 g of fruits and vegetables; for low blood pressure, it is recommended to drink sweet, strongly brewed tea with lemon several times a day;
• for hypertension, restriction of the use of table salt, seasonings and spices, smoked foods, carbonated drinks, chocolate, etc.; for hypotension, calcium-containing products (milk, cottage cheese, sauerkraut, etc.) are recommended.
• with low blood pressure, it is recommended to accustom the child to a contrast shower, it has a tonic effect (you should start with alternating warm and cool water, gradually lowering and raising the temperature of the water, in 2-3 weeks you can achieve alternating hot and cold water);
• Massage of the collar area has a good effect.

Drug therapy

The first priority is to treat the underlying disease. Only a doctor should decide on the need for drug treatment to correct blood pressure and select drugs for both lowering and increasing blood pressure.

The use of herbal medicines and traditional medicine recommendations must also be coordinated with a doctor.

Features of blood pressure in children of puberty

Deviations in blood pressure markers are now increasingly being diagnosed in adolescents. Why does this happen? At this time, some provoking factors are observed that affect the change in the indicator.

Among these factors:

• Hormonal transformations;
• Some previous injuries;
• Disturbances in the functioning of endocrine organs;
• Heredity;
• Severe stress;
• Functional failures of internal organs.

These reasons affect the level of pressure for people of all ages, and all of them can manifest themselves during puberty.

Symptoms of arterial hypertension in children

Vegetative-vascular dystonia most often occurs at school age. Such children are emotionally labile, irritable, often complain of headaches, pain in the heart, and increased fatigue. On examination, in addition to increased blood pressure, an increased heart rate is noted, and heart murmurs may be heard.

At an earlier age, hypertension is usually asymptomatic. In rare cases, it leads to a delay in the baby’s physical development, the appearance of signs of heart failure, shortness of breath, increased excitability and even seizures.

Kidney disorders

Renal hypertension is characterized by its stability, the predominance of increased diastolic pressure, resistance to drug treatment and manifestations of the underlying disease of the child’s excretory system.

Symptoms of endocrine arterial hypertension

• Hyperaldosteronism, in addition to high blood pressure, leads to a decrease in potassium levels in the blood; children complain of headaches and dizziness, blurred vision, an increase in the daily amount of urine, predominant urine excretion at night, severe thirst, diarrhea, the child’s growth slows down;
• hypercorticism or Itsenko-Cushing's disease (syndrome) is manifested, in addition to increased blood pressure, by slowed growth, obesity, an increase in the number of all blood cells, decreased bone density (osteoporosis), acne, and increased hair growth;
• A tumor of the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma) is manifested by attacks of increased blood pressure, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and pallor of the child. Thirst and an increase in the daily amount of urine may also be noted;
• a child with Graves' disease will have poor sleep, fatigue, unstable mood, sweating, a slight increase in temperature, trembling of the fingers, tongue, and eyelids. The pulse increases even during sleep, systolic pressure increases, and diastolic pressure decreases. The appetite is increased, and the child is losing weight.

Cardiological hypertension

This type of hypertension also has some differences. When the aortic isthmus is narrowed, the increase in blood pressure has its own characteristics: in the upper extremities the blood pressure is increased, and in the lower extremities it is reduced; pulsation in the legs is not palpable.

With congenital heart defects, symptoms of circulatory disorders and signs of a specific type of defect come to the fore; hypertension is noted among other symptoms.

Brain damage

Disturbances in the functioning of the brain during a tumor process, during injury or as a result of inflammation of the brain substance (encephalitis) are manifested by symptoms of each specific disease; hypertension is one of the manifestations of the disease.

Features of diagnosing blood pressure in adolescents

Quite often, in adolescence, blood pressure disorders are detected completely by accident. Certain disruptions in a child’s well-being are attributed to growing up; parents are often confident that the child will “outgrow” them. In some situations, you really shouldn’t focus on some minor points, but more often it makes sense to be vigilant.

If the child has already entered puberty, then it is recommended to visit the pediatrician (and, at his insistence, specialists) as often as possible.

These are not just routine examinations, they are monitoring the state of health at the age of enormous internal changes. A psychologist is also added to the doctors: the help of this specialist will definitely not be superfluous - it is difficult for the child himself to cope with those changes that affect his physiology and emotional spectrum. Yes, and parents will need the help of a professional: this is an acute time for conflicts and misunderstandings, mom and dad must be prepared for this, they must be able to react correctly to those situations that invariably arise during puberty.

A teenager's blood pressure may rise sporadically. Therefore, in order to identify pathology, it is necessary to record at least three moments of increased pressure. Only then is an in-depth diagnosis carried out, the causes of the pathology are searched for, and therapy or lifestyle adjustments are prescribed.

Why does blood pressure rise?

About 13 percent of children have high blood pressure. This is usually associated with vascular spasms or increased stress on the heart.

Most often, blood pressure rises for completely normal and physiological reasons: due to stress, fatigue, after physical exertion. The indicators are moderately increased, this condition is temporary and quickly passes.

Attention! Alcohol, nicotine, and drugs can cause a sudden increase in blood pressure in a teenager.

A persistent increase in blood pressure gives rise to talk about hypertension. It is divided into primary and secondary. The first form is caused by constant severe stress, lack of sleep, conflicts, and sports overload.

Secondary hypertension is caused by head injuries, tumors, heart defects, and complex diseases of internal organs. Sometimes there are hidden problems of the cardiovascular or endocrine system. Most often, high blood pressure in a child is discovered by chance. It is important to immediately undergo an examination to clarify the reasons for such an increase.

Normal heart rate indicators for children of different ages

Another important indicator, measured along with blood pressure, is pulse. Heart rate (HR) allows you to determine how the child is developing and whether he has heart pathologies.

READ ALSO: normal heart rate by age for a child

Indicators familiar to adults are not suitable for children; their heart rate is much higher. The table below will help you compare measurements with normal values:

When measuring, take into account external factors that influence the indicator. These include air temperature and atmospheric pressure, possible stressful conditions for the child, and recent physical activity. The maximum pulse can exceed the optimal value by 3 times, which does not indicate pathology.

INTERESTING: what body temperature is considered normal for a child under one year old?

Deviations from the norm: is there any cause for alarm?

Children, like adults, are also subject to various influences of destabilizing factors that can cause results to go beyond normal limits. If parents measure the child’s blood pressure and know its norm, then if the baby is not feeling well, the next diagnostic procedure can seriously alarm the adults - the blood pressure either increased or decreased.

You need to understand that there are good reasons for the appearance of deviations, which led to non-standard numbers on the pressure gauge. You should not be surprised at sudden surges in blood pressure in adolescents - in girls from the age of 10 and over a two-year period, the results of blood pressure are dictated by hormonal changes, so sometimes its surges can be completely justified.

For boys, this period is delayed by a year and their pressure gauge can present surprises from the ages of 11 to 13 years. It is noteworthy that the very next day in children at this age, normal blood pressure is restored, and deviations may not appear for a long time. In this case, there is no need to worry about the results - they will return to normal as soon as the hormonal levels stabilize.

Causes of increased pressure

If the pressure is elevated and normalizes within several measurements at rest for several days in a row, it is necessary to pay attention to the reasons for this condition. Among them, doctors note the following:

• improper daily routine, lack of sleep and rest;
• severe stress, psychological stress;
• increased physical activity.

By analyzing the possible causes and eliminating them, you can achieve normal indicators in the child. For example, if a child suffers from frequent changes in blood pressure at the age of 7 or 8, it is worth reducing the workload at school - most often, it is this factor that contributes to the deviation of blood pressure from the norm. If, after eliminating the cause, the results have returned to normal and the child does not complain of feeling unwell, then there is no need to worry.

With persistently elevated blood pressure, there is a danger of damage to the centers of the brain, the development of kidney pathologies, problems with vascular tone, poisoning with potent chemicals, and problems with the activity of the thyroid gland.

Reasons for low blood pressure

Pressure can deviate not only in the upward direction, but also in the downward direction. Low blood pressure leads to lethargy and drowsiness. The reason for this condition may be:

• mental strain and stress;
• birth injuries (intrauterine hypoxia);
• lack of physical activity or its excess;
• adaptation to climate change;
• frequent colds, infectious diseases;
• hormonal changes.

Low blood pressure should be taken no less seriously than high blood pressure. It often causes fainting, visual hallucinations and other disturbances. A decrease in blood pressure at the age of 16-17 can be caused by both harmless factors - mental overstrain in the last grades of school, and more serious reasons - the use of psychotropic drugs, early pregnancy, etc. It is important for parents to monitor their teenager’s health in order to respond to warning signs in a timely manner.

How to correctly measure a child's blood pressure and pulse?

Measuring blood pressure and pulse in a child has its own characteristics. It is important for parents to monitor the baby’s condition; he should be calm. It is better to measure blood pressure in the morning after using the toilet and no less than an hour after eating.

A child under 2 years old is placed on his back; older children can sit quietly. The hand is placed on a support, it is bent at the elbow and relaxed. The palm is turned upward, the angle between the shoulder and the hand is straight. The child’s legs do not hang, place a bedside table or a special step. Ask the patient to lean on the back of a chair and not talk during measurements.

It is very important to use a baby cuff, especially for babies. Its length should not exceed ¾ of the length from the elbow to the armpit. The cuff is attached to the forearm in such a way that an adult’s finger fits between the fabric and the skin. Then air pumping begins, depending on the type of device, this is done manually or automatically.

Home blood pressure monitors immediately show three numbers: upper, lower pressure and pulse. If you are using an old-style device, you may need a phonendoscope. It is applied at the elbow under the cuff, the beginning of the pulsation will mark the upper blood pressure, and the end of the pulsation will indicate the lower blood pressure.