Parents have been warned that leaving their children sedentary all day puts them at risk of fatal conditions.
Being an unhealthy lifestyle or “couch potato” can lead to health problems at any age.
And a new report from Italian doctors warns that children under the age of six are at risk for high blood pressure (high blood pressure).
According to the Mayo Clinic, high blood pressure in young children is linked to heart defects, kidney disease, genetic conditions, or hormonal disorders.
If their condition continues into adulthood, the risk of heart attack and stroke increases.
Obesity is a leading cause of high blood pressure in both children and adults, and statistics suggest that the problem is getting worse.
So families need to be healthy together, according to an expert paper published in the European Heart Journal on Wednesday.
The study’s first author, Professor Giovanni de Simone of the University of Naples Federico II, said:
“Very often, high blood pressure and/or obesity coexist in a family.
“Even if not, it is desirable for all family members to make lifestyle modifications.
“The rise in hypertension in children is of great concern as it is associated with the persistence of hypertension and other cardiovascular problems during adulthood.”
1 in 7 obese children (less than 2% of children of normal weight) have high blood pressure.
The team said children and adolescents should get at least one hour of exercise each day and no more than two hours of sitting at home.
“Parents should monitor the amount of time their children watch TV or use a smartphone and suggest active alternatives,” said Professor De Simone.
They also recommended children:
- Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits
- intake of high-fiber foods
- limit salt intake
- Avoid sugary drinks
- avoid saturated fats
Professor de Simone said that goals for a healthy life should not be “compulsive” but should be set around rewards.
“The ideal incentive would be to increase social support and reinforce the value of a goal behavior, such as a family bike ride or a walk with friends,” he said.
High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer” because it is asymptomatic but serious.
However, signs of an emergency include headaches, seizures, vomiting, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, or shortness of breath.
One in three British adults has high blood pressure, but many people don’t know regarding it.
The only way to know your condition is to have your blood pressure taken at your general practitioner, pharmacy, gym, or home appliance.
Experts have warned that children are increasingly debilitating and deteriorating in health.
Prior to the outbreak, the UK Public Health Department warned that children’s levels of physical activity were “surprisingly low”. This increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and several cancers.
One in five children was active for an hour a day.
What causes high blood pressure?
Because many risk factors can exist, doctors may not be able to pinpoint the exact cause of high blood pressure.
Some people are more likely to develop high blood pressure because they have “risk factors.”
Risk factors that cannot be changed include:
- Age – if you are over 65
- Family history – if you have a relative with high blood pressure
- Ethnicity – If you are of Black African or Black Caribbean ancestry
- Socioeconomic status – if you live in a poor area
However, many risk factors can be challenged.
these are:
- overweight
- Bad diet and lack of exercise
- Drinking too much alcohol or coffee
- smoking
- can’t sleep much
- other health conditions
Lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure, even if you are at a disadvantage, for example, because you are 65 or older.
“Most people develop high blood pressure because of their diet, lifestyle or medical condition,” says the British Heart Foundation.