Biography
Biography: Mona Youssef
Abstract
Hypertension in the young population is underestimated and undertreated; not because of negligence, but rather due to the difficulty in its diagnosis and follow-up.
Each child has a blood pressure of his own in accordance to his age, sex, height, weight and his ethnicity and genetics. Many pediatricians do not profile the parent’s health condition.
The proper way for blood pressure measurements is also not stressed upon in exams and most do not look for it unless they spot a culprit. Primary hypertension is as real for children as it is for adults to the point of the need for publication of guidelines especially for the younger age groups.
Modern day life style along with obesity and its growing prevalence is becoming problematic. "White coat" hypertension is also shared by the young population and has led to the adoption of 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement techniques that may be cumbersome and annoying for the active and relentless child.
Not every medication prescribed for an adult can be prescribed for a child. And on top of all of that, most people seek their pediatrician only in time of "known†sickness eliminating the advantage of follow-up on any new developments; and when informed of their child's condition, they take it lightly because "kids just don't have primary hypertension" unaware of the implications later in life, raising the problem of compliance.
General awareness is not only necessary for the general population as a whole, but also for their healthcare provider.