Even children can be diagnosed with hypertension

DEAR DOCTORS: My nephew is 12 years old and was diagnosed with hypertension. I was surprised because I didn’t realise this could be a problem for kids his age. I don’t remember having my blood pressure checked as a kid. What information do you have about this?

DEAR READER: No matter someone’s age, blood pressure plays an important role in good health. Living with hypertension, which is chronic high blood pressure, puts you at increased risk of developing a wide range of diseases and conditions. These include heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, vision loss and changes to cognition. High blood pressure is known to increase the risk of microvascular disease. This is a type of heart disease that affects the smallest arteries that serve the heart. It can also lead to peripheral artery disease. This is a narrowing of the…