home Audience 12 Blood pressure of a 13 year old boy. Symptoms of arterial hypertension in children. Consequences of frequent changes in blood pressure in a child

Blood pressure of a 13 year old boy. Symptoms of arterial hypertension in children. Consequences of frequent changes in blood pressure in a child

Age, gender and type nervous system have a significant effect on blood pressure, which varies depending on the time of day and physical activity. Average readings are 120/80 mmHg. Art. refer exclusively to adults with a formed body. Infants, schoolchildren and teenagers are different categories of patients that require a special approach. Knowing how the circulatory system works at a certain age, you can avoid many serious pathologies. If your child complains of weakness, headache, fatigue and absent-mindedness, the first step to treatment will be measuring blood pressure.

What is blood pressure

Blood in the body moves every second through a system of tubes of various diameters, supplying each organ with useful substances and the amount of oxygen it needs. The leading mechanism is the heart, which plays the role of a living pump. Thanks to the reduction muscle fibers myocardium, blood is released into the arteries. The level of pressure in them is called arterial.

It should be understood that blood pressure is a labile, changing indicator, even over the course of a day or even several hours

When measuring blood pressure classically, two types are obtained:

systolic (upper)– develops during the period of maximum contraction of the heart muscle;
diastolic (lower)– characterizes the passive movement of blood through the vessels during diastole.

After intense contraction of the heart (systole), the period of diastole begins, when the myocardium completely relaxes. Knowing the lower and upper blood pressure, you can set the pulse pressure. This is the difference between two such indicators, which is normally 40-60 mmHg. Art. An equally important indicator in diagnosing heart disease is the pulse rate, which should not exceed 70–80 beats/min.

How to correctly measure a child's blood pressure

Tonometers are mechanical, semi-automatic and automatic. To get the most accurate readings, it is better to use a classic tonometer, which consists of a shoulder cuff, an air pump, a simple phonendoscope and a pressure gauge. The first such measurement is recommended to be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, as there is a risk of developing the wrong technique. The pediatrician will quickly establish the level of air injection and, based on years of experience, will be able to answer your questions.

expose the shoulder, tighten the cuff 2 cm above the elbow, bend slightly elbow joint so that the middle of the shoulder is at heart level;

It is best to measure blood pressure at the same time, preferably in the morning

place the phonendoscope membrane in the cubital fossa, wait for the onset of pronounced pulsation;
by actively squeezing the bulb, inflate the cuff with air to the mark on the pressure gauge of 60 mmHg. Art. and so on until the pulsation stops;
stop pumping, open the valve on the bulb and carefully release air from the cuff;
the appearance of pulse tones indicates top level blood pressure, and the time of disappearance of the last tone is an indicator of the lower limit;
complete the procedure by deflating the cuff, which is then removed and wait 5–10 minutes for re-measurement.

This procedure is done in the first half of the day, no less than an hour after meals and active exercises; during the procedure the patient must be in calm state. It is necessary to purchase a device with a cuff of the appropriate size in advance; attempts to tighten a cuff that is too large can lead to incorrect results. Infants are very restless; it is easier for them to measure blood pressure using an electronic tonometer.

Norms for a baby up to 1 year

Children's arteries are more elastic, due to which the vascular tone in the baby is slightly lower. Rapid growth leads to a constant increase in blood pressure throughout the first year of life. Vascular tone increases, the walls of arteries and veins become stronger.

Normal values vary throughout the year:

for a newborn 60–96/40–50 mm Hg. Art.;
at the end of the first month of life 80–112/40–74 mm Hg. Art.;
in children 2–12 months old, according to the generally accepted table, indicators can fluctuate within the range of 90–112/50–74 mm Hg. Art.

If in the first year of life blood pressure increases very quickly, then after a year, by 2-3 years, its growth also occurs, but more smoothly, slowly

Could it be one month old baby blood pressure like his one-year-old neighbor? It should not be surprising that blood pressure standards in one month and in one year are almost the same. Each baby develops differently. Some children may experience a gradual increase in blood pressure, while others experience rapid development. of cardio-vascular system.

What should be the blood pressure of a child aged 2–3 years?

Increased interest in the world around us requires significant effort from the child’s body. The baby is constantly moving, expending a large amount of energy. At 2–3 years, indicators range from mm Hg. Art. up to 112/74 mm Hg. Art. The heart muscle contracts with new strength, due to which the blood moves faster, providing organs and tissues with new useful substances. Blood pressure depends on heredity, physical activity and the state of the circulatory system at the moment.

Blood pressure norms for children aged 4–5 years

The body is still developing, and therefore fluctuations in indicators are possible within the range of 100–110/65–75 mm Hg. Art. At this age, most preschoolers begin to attend kindergarten. In winter, many preschoolers are prone to infectious diseases, which has a significant effect on vascular tone. Moving away from home and meeting with caregivers is a serious stress that leads to vasospasm.

Blood pressure indicators in children aged 6–12 years

Junior and middle school age is always associated with serious psychological stress. Training program requires significant effort from the student. Besides getting good grades, most children try their best to please their teachers and classmates.

The child’s blood pressure should be compared with the norms for age:

at 6–9 years 105/120–70/80 mmHg. Art., indicators are more or less stable and depend little on gender;
at 10–12 years 110/120–75/80 mmHg. Art., due to more early onset During puberty in girls, rates may be slightly higher.

11–12 years are the boundary between childhood and adolescence. Due to acceleration, some children begin to grow rapidly. Increase in bone length with slow development internal organs creates additional stress on the vessels. Moderate exercise will help strengthen the heart muscle and stabilize the nervous system.

Blood pressure norms for adolescents aged 13–16 years

An easy and cloudless teenage period is more of a happy exception to the rule than the norm. Due to intensive growth and active puberty, the circulatory system is forced to work in enhanced mode. Teenagers are by nature very suspicious. Their high or low blood pressure most often has a neurogenic nature and is easily normalized with the help of sedative infusions.

From the age of 12-15 (according to some sources from 11-17) children experience new stage. This is a period of hormonal changes and puberty.

Blood pressure norms for adolescents are:

at 13–15 years old it varies between 110–120/75–80 mmHg. Art.;
at 15–16 years of age, the indicators correspond to the norms for adults 115–120/70–80 mm Hg. Art.

In men after 16 years of age, the rates are slightly higher than in women. People who regularly engage in sports have stronger hearts and blood vessels that are resistant to unfavorable factors external environment. Thin teenagers are more likely to be hypotensive, while overweight teenagers are prone to atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Causes and symptoms of high blood pressure

Before suspecting hypertension in your child, it is worth remembering the hemodynamic parameters that are normal for him. If a child has felt great all his life, having 105/70 mmHg. Art., then even indicators of 115/80 can cause symptoms of hypertension in him. One cup of coffee, safe for an adult, can lead to an increase in blood pressure in a baby, just like a scratched knee or a broken toy.

Symptoms of hypertension are reflected in the baby’s behavior:

he becomes irritable;
does not want to communicate with anyone;
says “my head and heart hurt”;
complains of feeling unwell;
refuses toys.

If, during a single measurement, you find some increase or decrease in indicators relative to age norms, this is not a reason to panic

For normalization vascular tone get enough rest and good sleep. During an exacerbation, it is better to refrain from going to school for a day or two. If symptoms of hypertension appear only during training and disappear on weekends, this is a reason to think about it. A student may find it difficult to study and require additional classes. Less commonly, hypertension occurs against the background endocrine pathologies, damage to the heart or kidneys.

Blood pressure level is a very important indicator. What should it be like for a 13-year-old teenager? details in this article.

Normal blood pressure in a teenager

So, what should the normal blood pressure be in 13-year-old children? Systolic (so-called upper) pressure should be between 110-136 mmHg. And the diastolic (lower) pressure should be 70-86 mmHg. These indicators are normal.

High blood pressure in a teenager

It often happens that a teenager complains of a headache and his cheeks turn red. This indicates that the pressure has risen sharply. But such a phenomenon at the age of 13 is considered normal, since hormonal surges which cause an increase in adrenaline levels. AND normal pressure teenagers ceases to be so and increases.

Stress and overexertion can aggravate the situation, so it is important at this age to provide the child with the most calm and comfortable conditions. But sometimes an increase in pressure indicates diseases of the cardiovascular or endocrine system.

Low blood pressure in teenagers

And such a phenomenon as a decrease in blood pressure also occurs, and quite often. But this condition is no less dangerous than high blood pressure in adolescents. With what it can be connected? Firstly, with diets and weight loss. Anemia can also be a cause.

In addition, often heavy periods or other blood loss can also cause a decrease in blood pressure. Other causes may include infections, allergies, head injuries, vascular disease, heart disease, or endocrine system problems.

It is worth noting that it is important for parents to closely monitor such indicators as the teenager’s blood pressure in order to ensure his health in the future.

Not only adults, but also children face problems with blood pressure, and noticeable changes in indicators for a child can result in serious health problems. Therefore, it is useful to know the normal blood pressure in children; it is different for each age.

How to measure a child's blood pressure

Before we talk about what the normal blood pressure and heart rate should be in children, let’s understand a little what blood pressure actually is.

Blood pressure depends on many factors: a person’s age, his build and height, daily routine, nutritional system, elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, and even on mood and many other features. Passing through blood vessels, the blood presses on their walls, and the strength of this impact depends on the size of the vessels. The larger the diameter, the higher the pressure. The unit of measurement is one millimeter of mercury.

If the doctor has prescribed monitoring of your child’s blood pressure, you need to learn how to measure it correctly. Pressure measurements carried out with process violations may be incorrect, thereby misleading about the child’s health status.

Prescribe regular blood pressure measurements to the child if there is any suspicion certain diseases or for preventive purposes. You can use an electronic or mechanical tonometer. Of course, the electronic one is much simpler, and you don’t need to have certain skills to measure pressure with it, but not everyone has it. But a mechanical tonometer can be found in almost every home.

To measure a child’s blood pressure, it is important to use special children’s cuffs that are placed on the baby’s arm. The cuff must also correspond to the age, and, therefore, the build of the child. For a one-year-old baby (and younger), the tire inner tube cuff should be from 3 to 5 centimeters.

Measure a child's blood pressure better in the morning, immediately after sleep. The baby should lie down, and his arm, palm up, should be tilted to the side so that it is at the level of the heart. Then the indicators will be as truthful as possible. The tonometer cuff is placed on the arm above 2-3 cm of the elbow. Moreover, the cuff should not fit very tightly; the mother’s finger should fit freely between it and the hand.

If the measurement is carried out with a mechanical tonometer, its phonendoscope must be applied to the fossa of the elbow, where the pulse can be clearly felt.

The tonometer valve must be closed
Start pumping air until the pulse stops being heard.
Then carefully open the valve slightly, the air should come out slowly
Watch the scale carefully
The first sound heard is the systal (upper) pressure
Second - diastolic (lower)

It is necessary to remember which number the tonometer arrow pointed to for each of these sounds; it is better to write down the information. A kind of pressure diary, where you will need to record your readings daily, will help the doctor track all changes in blood pressure as accurately as possible. Thanks to this, put correct diagnosis The pediatrician can do it much more quickly.

What is the normal blood pressure for a child under one year old?

Newborn babies have minimal pressure - its norm is 59-97/40-55 mmHg. But when the baby turns one month old, the pressure reaches 80-114/40-74 mmHg. Art. This happens because the child’s body switches to the pulmonary type of breathing, the functioning of the cardiovascular system and the elasticity of blood vessels change. Blood pressure increases most quickly in the first four weeks; the increase can be up to 2 units per day. After this, the increase in pressure slows down, so a one-year-old baby has approximately the same blood pressure norm: from 80-114 to 40-74. This is clearly demonstrated by the table of normal blood pressure in a child under one year old. Fluctuations in these parameters are affected by the growth and fatness of the baby. Such a rapid rate of increase in pressure is also due to an increase in the tone of the child’s blood vessels.

The normal blood pressure in children under one year of age is calculated using the following formula: 76+2 x t, where t is the number of months the child has lived. The normal blood pressure in a child over one year of age is determined by a slightly different formula, which we will present a little later.

If, after the first measurement, the baby’s blood pressure does not correspond to accepted standards, do not worry in advance. The indicators, as we have already said, are influenced by many factors, including pain or simply discomfort, crying, sleep. When you sleep, your blood pressure goes down, and when you cry it goes up. And how much babies cry is no secret to anyone.

If your baby's blood pressure readings regularly do not correspond accepted norm, This serious reason for concern and contact your pediatrician.

To ensure that measurements are as accurate as possible, they are carried out three times in a row, with a four-minute break between each measurement. In babies, pressure is measured only from a lying position, and only when the child celebrates his first year can pressure be measured in a sitting position.

What blood pressure should a child have at 3 years old?

The normal pressure in children 2-3 years old ranges approximately from 100-114 (systolic, upper) to 59-74 mmHg for diastolic, lower. As you can see, the indicators are not very different from those accepted for one-year-old babies. The thing is that high rates of blood pressure growth are typical specifically for the first months of a child’s life. Subsequently, the growth rate decreases and becomes smoother.

If it is not possible to remember the table of normal pressure changes in children by age, write down the formula for calculation. 90 + 2 x t. Now t is the child's age, measured in years.

Normal blood pressure in a 5 year old child

The table by age tells us that although there is an increase in blood pressure for older children, it is very small. Systolic pressure in a child of this age ranges from 100-117 mmHg. Art., and diastolic up to 76 millimeters of mercury. Moreover, when measuring blood pressure at any age, it is important to remember that it changes even depending on the time of day. During the day and evening the indicators are maximum, and at night they are minimum.

Blood pressure in a 6-9 year old child

The norm for this age now ranges from 100-122 for systolic and up to 78 mmHg. Art. for diastolic. The child's indicators may deviate from average norm. This is associated with the beginning of “social” life - entering school, which is associated with physical and psycho-emotional stress on the child. If a student complains of a headache or extreme fatigue, monitor his blood pressure, not forgetting to keep a diary.

The blood pressure of a 7, 8, 9 year old child may not fluctuate much; whether this is normal or not will be better determined by the doctor to whom you provide records of pressure changes.

Normal blood pressure in children 10-13 years old

At this age it begins puberty child, associated changes appear in the body, including blood pressure that begins to fluctuate. This is especially true for girls, because they “mature” faster than boys. Here, the indicators of “children’s” pressure are already closer to the “adult” norm and range from 110/70 to 127/83 mmHg. Do not forget that blood pressure levels in children 10, 11, 12, 13 years old are also affected by body composition. For example, taller and thinner girls have slightly lower blood pressure.

Normal blood pressure for a child 14-17 years old

When puberty blossoms in all its “glory”, showing the world its brightest manifestations in the change in the character of a teenager, his blood pressure also does not lag behind. It can jump from low to high, as in adults. This is due to numerous stressful situations which a teenager begins to experience after spending long periods of time with various kinds gadgets, increasingly noticeable stress at school. Adding here the change hormonal levels, we get juvenile hypertension or hypotension.

Normal blood pressure in children 14, 15, 16, 17 years old ranges from 110/70 to 136/86 mmHg. Pressure surges in such a child may be accompanied by increased heart rate, fainting, increased or decreased pulse, severe headache, and dizziness. It is likely that after overcoming adolescence, the child’s blood pressure will return to normal, but surges cannot be ignored either. If violations are detected, you again need to keep a diary of the child’s blood pressure for some time and go to the doctor with these records. This may help avoid health problems in the future.

If a child under 18 years of age experiences regular blood pressure disorders, you need to make an appointment with a neonatologist, local pediatrician, or pediatric cardiologist. And to understand if a child has problems with blood pressure, a table of the child’s blood pressure (normal for age) will help.

Blood pressure in children: normal (Table by age)
Child's age	Blood pressure mmHg
	Systolic		Diastolic
	Minimum	Maximum	Minimum	Maximum
0-2 weeks	59	96	40	50
2-4 weeks	80	114	40	74
2-13 months	100	114	50	74
2-3 years	100	114	58	74
3-5 years	100	117	58	77
6,7,8,9 years	100	122	58	78
10, 11, 12, 13, 14 years	110	127	70	82
13, 14, 15, 16, 17 years old	110	136	70	86

Normal heart rate in children different ages:

A child's body is different from an adult's. Therefore, pediatricians have developed age standards for all vital signs of children: breathing, blood pressure, pulse, blood and urine tests. In this article we will look in detail normal indicators blood pressure in children of different ages.

1 Features of blood pressure in children

Blood pressure in children is lower than in adults. The “gold standard” for an adult is 120/80 mmHg. completely unacceptable, for example, for a six-month-old baby. Children's blood pressure is lower because children's body the capillary network is more developed, the lumen of the vessels is wider, the system of regulation of vascular tone is imperfect, the walls of the vessels are more pliable, elastic.

In a child’s body, the autonomic nervous system is not fully formed, which has a direct effect on the regulation of blood pressure. Just like in an adult, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) pressure is determined in children. Indicators are written in fractions. Systolic characterizes how the blood presses on the vessels when the heart contracts, i.e. into systole. Diastolic determines how the blood presses on the vessels at the moment the heart relaxes, i.e. in diastole.

Its magnitude depends on the tone, elasticity, peripheral resistance of blood vessels, as well as normal operation kidneys, since the kidneys have a special mechanism that regulates blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure is also called “cardiac”, and diastolic blood pressure is called “renal”. A child’s blood pressure largely depends on body weight, height, and heredity. Obviously, the numbers for a plump, strong guy will be higher than for an asthenic child of the same age. Nutrition and lifestyle play a big role.

It should be understood that blood pressure is a labile, changing indicator, even over the course of a day, or even several hours. There are no strict, but only conditional norms. Deviations from these norms by 5-7 mmHg. are not pathological.

Let's take a closer look at the blood pressure norms in children by age.

2 Norms for newborns and children up to one year

In a newborn baby, blood pressure is calculated using the following formula: 76/0.5 from SBP. Approximately these numbers, with deviations of 5-10 mmHg. both up and down, can be determined by healthy child. As the newborn grows and all organs and systems develop, it will increase slightly, and by the end of the first month of life, the following figures will become the norm: systolic blood pressure - 70-90 mmHg, diastolic - 45-60 mmHg .st.

The neonatal period lasts 28 days. After this period, the pressure in a child under 1 year of age can be calculated using the following formula: 76+2m/0.5 from SBP. SBP=76+2m, where m is the number of months, DBP=0.5 from SBP. By year, the average indicators are as follows: 80-100/50-60 mmHg. It should be noted that blood pressure may fluctuate due to an increase in body temperature, room temperature, and changes in weather conditions.

It will increase in the child after feeding, active sucking, crying, gymnastics, laughter, physical activity, and also decrease after sleep. All these factors must be taken into account when measuring.

3 Norms for children after one year

For children after one year, a formula for calculating blood pressure has also been derived: 90+2l/60+l. SBP=90+2l, where l is the number of years, DBP=60+ l. If in the first year of life blood pressure increases very quickly, then after a year, by 2-3 years, its growth also occurs, but more smoothly, slowly. Conventional norms for systolic blood pressure for 2 years are 90-105, diastolic blood pressure is 60-65 mmHg.

It should also be remembered when measuring that during the day and evening the numbers are usually higher than in the morning or at night. The lowest numbers are recorded at night and early in the morning.

In addition to formulas that can be used as a guide in calculations, there are special centile tables by age. They also take into account gender, height, weight and the level of measured blood pressure. If, according to the table, taking into account measurements of pressure, height and other required values, blood pressure indicators are in the range from the 10th to the 90th centile, this means that blood pressure is within normal limits.

If the values are within the 90-95th centile, such values are regarded as borderline hypertension, if above the 95th centile - arterial hypertension. Accordingly, if, according to the table standards, the pressure is between the 5th and 10th centiles, this is borderline hypotension (low blood pressure), if it is below the 5th centile, this is arterial hypotension.

An interesting fact is that up to 5 years of age, blood pressure in boys and girls is approximately the same; upon reaching the age of 5 years and up to 9-10 years, blood pressure in boys is slightly higher. Blood pressure in healthy five-year-old children approximately falls within the following limits (fluctuations of 5-10 mmHg are acceptable): boys - 95-110/65-70 mmHg, girls - 90-105/60-68 mmHg.

4 Norms in adolescence

From the age of 12-15 (according to some sources from 11-17) a new stage begins in the life of children. This is a period of hormonal changes and puberty. It is called adolescence or transition. This is an important, difficult stage in the life of a teenager. Most often at this age, jumps above or below normal values are observed. This is due to the following factors:

increased hormonal levels;
unstable psycho-emotional mood, stress;
imbalance of the autonomic nervous system. It is this imbalance that can cause the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia of the hypertonic or hypotonic type. The diagnosis of VSD is very common among adolescents.

Normal blood pressure values for adolescents aged 12-15 years are considered to be 110-130/70-85 mmHg. To systematize the data obtained, a table of normal blood pressure figures is given, taking into account the child’s age.

Age	Blood pressure numbers (mmHg)
	Systolic (SBP)	Diastolic (DBP)
Newborn	60-80	40-50
1 month	70-90	45-60
6 months	80-90	45-60
1 year	80-100	50-60
2 years	90-105	60-70
3-5 years	95-110	60-70
6-8 years	100-115	60-75
9-11 years	100-120	70-80
12-14 years old	105-120	70-80
15-17 years old	110-130	70-85

It should be remembered that the table shows conditional norms, and the deviation from these figures is within 5-7 mmHg. will not be a pathology in a child; moreover, it should be taken into account individual characteristics physical development children.

5 Memo for parents

The room where pressure measurements will be taken should not be too hot or cold, the air temperature should be comfortable. The cuff for measurement must be correctly selected taking into account the age of the baby. It is unacceptable to measure blood pressure in children with an adult cuff, as the measurement data will be distorted. Cuff width for infants should be 3-5 cm, for older children - 5-8 cm.

Before measurement, children should not engage in physical activity, actively play, eat, or be in the cold for 1-1.5 hours. It is best to measure blood pressure at the same time, preferably in the morning. During the procedure, the child should not be excited or upset, much less cry. It is better to measure blood pressure three times with an interval of at least three minutes.

If, during a single measurement, you find some increase or decrease in indicators relative to age norms, this is not a reason to panic. But if blood pressure disturbances are accompanied by complaints about your health, or such blood pressure disturbances have been recorded by you more than once, this is a reason to contact a pediatrician.

Knowledge about children's age standards ADs are mandatory for every parent, or those who are preparing to become one. And if many childhood diseases cannot be prevented, parents can identify changes in the child’s blood pressure and contact a pediatrician in a timely manner.

Changes in blood pressure are a fairly common phenomenon among the adult population. When blood pressure readings are above 140/90, hypertension is diagnosed. The child’s blood pressure norm is slightly different, however, if abnormalities are detected, you must immediately consult a doctor to determine their cause and prevent the development of complications.

As blood passes through circulatory system, pressure occurs on the elastic walls of blood vessels. The force of impact directly depends on the size of the latter. The larger the vessel, the more force the blood presses on its walls. Blood pressure (BP) can change during the day; it is influenced by many internal and external factors, For example:

intensity of heart contractions;
the presence of obstructions inside the veins and arteries (cholesterol plaques);
elasticity of the walls of blood vessels;
amount of blood, its viscosity.

Pressure is necessary for the normal movement of blood through the vessels and capillaries, as well as to ensure metabolic processes in organism. Blood pressure has two indicators: systolic (upper), diastolic (lower).

Systole is the state of the heart muscle at the moment of its contraction. In this case, a significant amount of blood is directed into the aorta, which leads to stretching of the vessel walls. They resist by increasing the pressure to maximum. This indicator is called systolic (SBP).

After contraction of the heart muscle has occurred, the valve closes tightly enough and the walls of the blood vessels begin to displace the resulting blood. It gradually spreads through the capillaries, while the pressure decreases to a minimum level. This indicator is called diastolic (DBP). One more important point, which determines the state of human health, is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This indicator is called pulse pressure, it should not exceed 40-50 mm Hg. Art. or be below 30.

Normal blood pressure in a child

Since the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels in children and adolescents is much higher, blood pressure indicators in childhood reduced and it is considered physiological norm. How younger child, the lower these numbers are.

Normal blood pressure in a child after birth is 70-45 mm. rt. Art. Deviations of several units or even ten are not considered a disease. However, by the end of the first year of life, these numbers become significantly larger and gradually increase with age. At 7-8 years old, normal blood pressure levels are approximately 105/70.

Important: At different ages, normal indicators differ for children of different sexes. For example, for boys these numbers are higher at the age of 5-8 years, as well as after 16, and for girls at 3-4 years and at 12-14 years.

Various factors can influence the strength of blood flow and, accordingly, blood pressure in children:

For example, in thin babies, normal childhood pressure often deviates to the lower side, but excess weight is a factor contributing to increased blood pressure. Caffeine consumption may also affect these numbers.

Due to the fact that the norm of pressure in children is individual, special formulas have been developed that are used to calculate standard indicators:

In children under one year of age, systolic pressure is calculated as follows: 76 + the number of months multiplied by two. Diastolic – 2/3-1/2 of the SBP value.
After a year the formula looks like this: 90 + twice the number of years for systolic pressure and 60 + number of years – for diastolic.

Normal blood pressure levels in children are shown in the table by age:

Age of child/adolescent	Blood pressure norms in children (mm Hg)
	Systolic		Diastolic
	Bottom line	Upper limit	Bottom line	Upper limit
0-2 weeks
2-4 weeks
1-12 months
1-3 years
4-5 years
6-9 years
10-12 years
13-15 years old

How to measure blood pressure in a child correctly

In order for the readings on the tonometer to be reliable, you must adhere to several simple rules:

Measurements are taken in the morning, the baby should be in a calm state.
If indicators are taken at another time of the day, this should be done an hour after a walk or meal.
Before the procedure, you should take your baby to the toilet.
For children under two years of age, measurements are taken in supine position, older ones can sit.
The hand being prepared for measurements should not hang. It must be placed parallel to the body on a side table, internal part brushes up.
For children, a special small cuff is used; when taking blood pressure readings in adolescents, a standard one is also suitable.
The cuff is attached to the forearm and measurements are taken in accordance with the instructions for the tonometer.
The measurement should be carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 5-7 minutes.
For the first time, children's blood pressure is measured on both arms; subsequently, measurements should be carried out on the arm where the values were higher.

Automatic or semi-automatic tonometers independently measure pressure and give final result. If a mechanical device is used, then a phonendoscope is additionally required, with the help of which the beginning of the pulsation in the vein and its end are listened to. The numbers corresponding to these moments will be considered indicators of blood pressure. Blood pressure norms in children are compared with the data obtained and if there are deviations, the necessary studies are carried out.

Diagnostics

To identify pathologies leading to changes in blood pressure, the doctor must have accurate information about the indicators. To do this, it is recommended to monitor blood pressure three times a day for several days. Then the doctor conducts a survey of the mother and child, during which he finds out the nature of the complaints, the course of pregnancy, the due date, and possible family heredity.

In addition, you will need additional research. The child is given directions to:

fundus examination;
electrocardiogram;
rheoencephalography of the brain;
general and biochemical tests blood;
analysis venous blood for hormones;
consultations with a cardiologist, neurologist, endocrinologist and other specialists if necessary.

In more difficult cases An ultrasound of the heart and other internal organs may be required, CT scan brain and other studies as indicated.

Deviations from the norm, their causes and treatment

As mentioned above, anything can cause changes in pressure readings. If your baby has arterial hypertension, then you need to know that it can be primary and secondary. Primary usually develops against the background of external factors: emotional, physical overload, and other phenomena affecting the child’s condition. However, after the body has rested, the pressure readings again meet the standards.

With secondary hypertension, deviations can persist for up to several days, which indicates the presence of various diseases. These may be pathologies of the kidneys, heart, obesity, problems with endocrine system, anemia, infectious diseases.

Causes of increased pressure

Factors influencing increased blood pressure include excessive physical exercise, various stresses, heredity. Can also contribute to changes in indicators poor nutrition: overeating, irregular meals or too little diet, as well as a diet containing large quantity sodium (salt). Severe overheating of the body quite often leads to an increase in blood pressure.

It is not recommended for a child to increase or decrease blood pressure on his own. Illiterate actions can only lead to complications and aggravate the baby’s condition. If all of the above factors are absent, the child is at rest, and increased performance persist for several hours or even days, you need to consult a doctor to identify the problem.

If the cause of high blood pressure is hormonal changes body in adolescence, then it’s not scary and over time everything will go back to normal. But if pathologies are found in the body that lead to surges in blood pressure, then you will need competent treatment, and amateur activity in this case can even be dangerous for the child’s life.

Treatment of high blood pressure in children

Treatment of high blood pressure in a child begins if a disease leading to such deviations has been diagnosed. Symptomatic therapy in this case it does not have a lasting effect. If the cause is vegetative-vascular dystonia or intracranial hypertension, then the child needs sedative therapy. It is possible to prescribe "Elenium", "Seduxen". It will also be necessary to normalize the regime. It is necessary to set aside time for daily walks fresh air, and physical therapy. It is possible to attract the baby to various types sports, but so that the load increases gradually.

If the increase in pressure is isolated - not associated with any pathologies, then treatment with beta-blockers will be required. Inderal and Obzidan are often prescribed. It is also possible to use Reserpine or Rauvazan for the treatment of high blood pressure. The dosage of the drug is selected separately in each specific case. It depends on the condition of the child and the readings on the tonometer. It is possible to prescribe diuretic drugs: “Hypothiazide”, “Veroshpiron”.

Causes of hypotension

If a child's blood pressure drops below 100/60, they are talking about the development of hypotension ( arterial hypotension). Special group the risk in this case is schoolchildren. Most often, this condition is diagnosed in girls. However, deviations of blood pressure from the norm to a lesser extent can also be observed in newborns. This is often associated with intrauterine developmental disorders, various infections or premature birth.

Doctors consider the most common causes of low blood pressure to be:

Hypotension can be caused by various diseases and traumatic factors. These include:

metabolic disorders;
pathologies of the endocrine system;
digestive system problems;
malfunction of the pituitary gland;
predisposition to diabetes mellitus or its presence;
traumatic brain injuries;
diseases of the cardiovascular system;
injuries accompanied by blood loss;
Iron-deficiency anemia;
kidney disease;
cerebrovascular accidents.

Treatment of hypotension

Low blood pressure is very often accompanied by a headache and parents, trying to alleviate the baby’s condition, give him analgesics. This is the wrong action, since without a diagnosis, the use of painkillers is contraindicated. These drugs can blur the picture of the course of the disease and complicate the identification of the underlying pathology.

In children under 10 years of age, it is not recommended to correct low blood pressure with medication. To alleviate the baby’s condition and relieve pain, you can offer him to drink a cup of weak coffee (natural) with milk. Hot chocolate and sweet black tea can also increase blood pressure.

From 11-12 years of age, hypotension is treated special drugs which the doctor will prescribe. The frequency of administration and dose should also be discussed with the doctor and you absolutely cannot change them yourself. Most often in pediatric practice for therapy similar conditions apply:

Adults often take Citramon for headaches. It should absolutely not be given to children, because in addition to caffeine, this drug contains active substance is acetylsalicylic acid. It thins the blood, which can lead to clotting problems. Medicines containing caffeine should not be used if the child has low blood pressure accompanied by a rapid pulse.

How can parents help?

To alleviate the child’s condition with frequent and prolonged changes in pressure up or down and the accompanying symptoms, you need to do the following:

try to normalize the psychological environment at school and create a pleasant atmosphere at home for the child;
maintain a daily routine appropriate to the child’s age, properly organize weekends and rest time;
limit TV viewing and computer games;
increase physical activity, depending on the condition of the little patient, you can go swimming, horse riding;
it is necessary to organize daily walks in the fresh air for at least 2 hours away from highways and other areas with a polluted atmosphere;
You should also exclude mental overload, perhaps refuse additional clubs or classes with a tutor;
provide the child balanced diet, organize 4-5 meals a day, including at least 300 grams of vegetables and fruits daily;
at high blood pressure consumption should be reduced table salt, spices, seasonings and harmful products;
with low blood pressure, it is necessary to add calcium-containing foods to the diet: milk, kefir, cottage cheese;
You will need a massage of the collar area.

It is also worth mentioning the effect of nicotine and alcohol on blood pressure readings. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor teenagers who, trying to seem like adults, begin to indulge in these substances.