We generally think of high blood pressure (hypertension) as a problem that only affects adults. But the reality is that it can occur at any age.
In some cases, doctors don't know exactly what causes childhood hypertension. However, there are factors that can increase a child's likelihood of having it. These include having a family history of high blood pressure, for example, or obesity.
High blood pressure can cause a child to have serious health problems in the future, such as heart disease. As more research is done on young people, harmful effects of high blood pressure on the heart, blood vessels and even learning have been found. That's why it's important to keep it under control.
