health

BP not normal

LA PRENSA

checkup:Doctors have seen an increase in the number of teens with high blood pressure.997995

Argentine Dr. Agustín Ramírez says that many parents are unaware that high blood pressure can affect children as well as adults.

"Many pediatricians are concerned about knowing the height and weight of a child, but they neglect charting the child's blood pressure," the doctor said. "But we are seeing a rapid increase in hypertension in children."

Ramírez is chairman of the Fundación para el Estudio de la Hipertensión

Arterial y Factores de Riesgo Cardiovascular de Argentina. He is in Panama this week to meet with local medical officials about the dangers of high blood pressure.

About 20 percent of adults suffer from the disease, which can lead to heart disease and strokes.

But children are also at risk.

"In children as well as adults, hypertension is closely related to obesity, poor nutrition and little physical activity," the doctor said.

Panamanian cardiologist Temístocles Díaz said that he has seen an upturn in patients in their teens at his practice. One of those patients, who was otherwise normal, admitted that he had used cocaine.

"He was close to having a heart attack," Díaz said.

To control hypertension in adults, there are numerous drugs on the market. But it can also be controlled through diet, exercise and taking steps such as quitting smoking.