Click to play videoNew Delhi: Considered an adult disease, hypertension or blood pressure affects 200 million Indians.
However, what is alarming is that one in 10 children or an estimated 10 per cent are being diagnosed with high pressure in the capital.
The figure is growing fast and with children as old as three years being the latest targets of the deadly disease.
Says senior consultant, Fortis Hospital, Dr Sanjeev Gulati, "Lack of exercise, stress and junk food are reasons for hypertension among children.”
A lifestyle disease, hypertension occurs when the heart has to work harder than normal to regulate the flow of fresh blood to different organs.
So if your child has been complaining of headache, breathlessness has been irritable lately then you should consult a doctor, as these could be the early signs of high blood pressure.
“Salt should be cut short in the diet. Regular exercise like yoga is helpful. The patient should go for regular blood pressure check up also following up with the doctor,” says Dr Gulati.
Medication is usually not prescribed for children unless there is significant high blood pressure or organ damage. But lifestyle changes go a long way in preventing and treating this disease.
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