Alarm Over Rising High Blood Pressure Among Children in the United Kingdom
The sharp increase in cases of high blood pressure (hypertension) among children and adolescents in the United Kingdom in recent years has raised serious concerns among health authorities and medical experts. Doctors warn that hypertension developing in childhood often progresses unnoticed and can significantly increase the risk of kidney disease, stroke, and heart attacks later in life.
According to experts, the prevalence of high blood pressure among children in the United Kingdom has nearly doubled over the past 20 years. Despite this trend, the absence of routine blood pressure screening for children makes it difficult to accurately assess the scale of the problem. Health professionals emphasize that a large proportion of adolescents with high blood pressure are only diagnosed once they reach adulthood.
Dr. Emily Haseler of King’s College London stated that the rise in childhood hypertension could pose a major long-term challenge and negatively affect the health of the working-age population. According to Haseler, incorporating blood pressure measurements into school-based health checks or national child health screening programs could enable the early identification of at-risk children.
Experts stress that childhood represents a critical window for establishing healthy eating habits and regular physical activity. Without early intervention, they warn, the growing burden of childhood hypertension could evolve into a significant public health crisis in the United Kingdom.