Babies get hypertension

Babies get hypertension

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Pediatricians say even babies and
children can suffer from hypertension.

"Hypertension can be inherited from parents with the same
problem and therefore must be effectively controlled early on to
prevent it from happening in adult life," Dr. Rusdidias told
Antara Wednesday.

He cited a 15-year study on 1,505 children by researchers at
Tulane University's National Center for Cardiovascular Health,
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, which showed hypertension
in children could be prevented from developing in adulthood.

Rusdidias, professor of the medical department of the North
Sumatra University in Medan, said the rate of the condition in
children was about five percent and was not as prevalent as in
adults, especially when age and gender were considered.

He quoted from a 1984 study on hypertension in Medan that
showed boys from three to seven comprised 2.5 percent while girls
comprised 2.2 percent of all cases of hypertension. (01)