Although it isn’t really common, teenagers can also suffer from hypertension. Most often teens develop the disease because they are overweight. But it can also occur in teens for other reasons, like smoking or sedentary life. Additionally, teens can have underlying medical problems that are the cause of such abnormal readings.
What is considered “normal” blood pressure for a teenager is not the same as for an adult. Blood pressure in infants is usually low (80/45), and even though that would be considered a very low blood pressure for an adult, it is perfectly normal for an infant. It slowly rises as we age. A teenager’s reading might be 110/70, and that would be acceptable for a teenager; but for a toddler, that would be too high. So what is considered “normal” blood pressure is relative to age.
What is considered “normal” reading is also relative to sex and height. Boys’ blood pressure readings are slightly higher than those of girls. A teenager is determined to have high blood pressure if their reading is higher than 95% of other teenagers of their sex, age, and height.
Often teenagers get very nervous when they are to see a physician. They may cover their nervousness well; but inside, their little hearts are pounding and their blood pressure rises. (This is what I call “white coat hypertension.”) A doctor cannot determine that a teenager’s reading is too high based upon one reading. Often the doctor will talk with the teenager and let him or her relax and then take another reading. Sometimes doctors will measure it several times at different times of the day before they are willing to diagnose a teenager with hypertension.
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