High Blood Pressure in Children

Healthcare providers diagnose high blood pressure differently in children than in adults because healthy blood pressure levels change as a child grows. High blood pressure in children occurs when a child’s blood pressure is equal to or higher than that of 95% of other children of the same age, sex assigned at birth and height.

Providers diagnose high blood pressure in children with multiple blood pressure readings. Most children should have their blood pressure taken at each well-care visit and some other problem-based visits.

To check blood pressure, a healthcare provider wraps a cuff called a sphygmomanometer on your child’s arm and places a stethoscope underneath it. The provider pumps the cuff full of air and then takes the reading as the air leaves the cuff.

Providers take several measurements before making a diagnosis of high blood pressure. This is because the stress of being in a provider’s office can cause blood pressure to rise in some people. It’s called white coat syndrome.

Determining the cause of high blood pressure

Your child’s healthcare provider will also try to determine the underlying cause of their high blood pressure. They’ll perform a physical exam and ask questions about your child’s medical history and lifestyle, such as your child’s:

• Existing medical conditions (if applicable).
• Symptoms (if applicable).
• Diet and eating patterns.
• Physical activity level.
• Family history of high blood pressure.

They may order certain tests to confirm or rule out underlying causes, such as:

• Blood tests, like a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), kidney function tests and hormone tests.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) to assess your child’s heart health.
• Imaging tests to look at your child’s heart and/or kidneys.

What is normal blood pressure for kids?

For adolescents 13 years or older, normal blood pressure is when the systolic number (top number) is less than 120 and the diastolic number (bottom number) is less than 80 (120/80 mm Hg).

For younger children, normal blood pressure is when it’s less than the 90th percentile based on the child’s sex assigned at birth, age and height.

What is high blood pressure for kids?

Healthcare providers organize abnormal blood pressure into three categories:

• Elevated (formerly known as prehypertension).
• Stage 1 (moderate hypertension).
• Stage 2 (severe hypertension).