A New Tool to Predict Childhood Hypertension

Irene Nguyen, 12/14/24

What is Hypertension? 

Hypertension is high blood pressure. In children, the high blood pressure range differs because the child's growth can easily manipulate the individually targeted blood pressure. However, for adolescents, the targeted range is more defined as it is similar to that of adults. A blood pressure of or higher than 130/80 millimeters of mercury is defined as unhealthy and individuals experiencing hypertension should consider revamping their lifestyles to pursue a healthier way of living. Childhood hypertension can be due to several factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits, superfluous weight gain, and lack of exercise. Quick adjustments and changes can be made to an individual's lifestyle such as eating low-sodium meals and being physically active. While these lifestyle changes may seem tedious and meaningless, momentum is key for improving one's life. 

Hypertension does not necessarily have symptoms that notify the person of their predicament. However, these are the conspicuous signs to read off in an emergency (or hypertensive crisis):

• Headaches 

• Seizures 

• Vomiting 

• Chest pains 

• Fast, pounding, or fluttering heartbeat (palpitations) 

• Shortness of breath 

The future of the world depends on the younger generation to take on the role that many before them had to continue their lineage. However, with children being diagnosed with hypertension, it can be volatile and harm the livelihood and health of the adolescents growing into adulthood. 

Researchers have found that changes to blood vessels and the heart can lead to long-term cardiovascular disease and other maladies. The ailments can inhibit an adolescent's chance of building a career, establishing a family, living a robust life, and other meaningful milestones. High blood pressure is present in six to eight percent of the youth and has been infringing to a greater amount that alarms medical professionals. The plight that these striplings face is perhaps experiencing a life-threatening heart stroke or attacks in their twenties or thirties which is why matters like these are now being researched to innovate technologies to combat this quagmire of life. 

Innovation of the Medical World 

Medical professionals are encouraging families to have their children screened at a primary care level more often in order to identify and diagnose any indisposition early on and avoid prolonging or amplifying the severity of the illness. 

Chanchlani’s ALERT-BP study is a research campaign that aims to create prediction tools or a calculating device that can detect high blood pressure in children as young as five years of age. Made possible by the funding of the HHS Foundation and Kidney Foundation of Canada, the study is making it possible by entering data from cohort birth studies from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. 

The tool is being modified with experts in the fields of software engineering, AI, and data sciences to enhance and increase the accuracy of prediction devices. 

“That's the concept behind this work,” says Chanchlani. “It may take us a few years, but that’s the big-picture plan.” 

Hypertension is, unfortunately, a ubiquitous condition that many children experience. The cause and effects of hypertension can lead to their adulthood, with the probability of torpedoing their future goals and plans, which can be an insurmountable plight for them as prospective leaders of the world. With innovation and human development, the technology at use in the medical world has evolved and created ways to combat this mare’s nest of a problem. The innovative creation is an incredible and dedicated device that can save many lives that can be otherwise lost. 

References 

Mayo Clinics (N.a). “High Blood Pressure in Children”. Retrieved Nov 17, 2024, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure-in-children/symptoms-caus es/syc-20373440 

Hamilton Health Sciences (Sept 26, 2024). “Combating high blood pressure in kids globally through big-data research”. Retrieved Nov 17, 2024, from 

https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/share/pediatric-blood-pressure-study/ 

Rose, Weldon (May 04, 2024). “Children with high blood pressure face long-term risk for cardiovascular disease”. Retrived Nov 17, 2024, from 

https://www.healio.com/news/pediatrics/20240504/children-with-high-blood-pressure-face-longt erm-risk-for-cardiovascular-disease