title: Hypertension in the teenager.
abstract: Over the last two decades, essential hypertension has become common in adolescents, yet remains under-diagnosed in absence of symptoms. Diagnosis is based on normative percentiles that factor in age, sex and height. Evaluation is more similar to adult essential hypertension than childhood secondary hypertension. Modifiable risk factors such as obesity, sodium consumption and low exercise should be addressed first. Many anti-hypertensive medications now have specific regulatory approval for children. Sports participation need not be limited in mild or well-controlled cases. Primary care physicians play an important role in reduction of cardiovascular mortality by early detection and referral when needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Driscoll Children's Hospital, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, 3533 South Alameda Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78411, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Anyaegbu
authors.forename: Vikas R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Dharnidharka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Adolescents; Antihypertensive medications; Cardiovascular mortality; Hypertension; Obesity