"In the past, blood pressure was something that grandma or grandpa took medicine for. But today..."

Hypertension an increasing concern among overweight, sedentary children

In the past, blood pressure was something that grandma or grandpa took medicine for. But today, hypertension is increasingly becoming a concern in kids because of the prevalence of obesity among our youth.

One in three children in our nation is obese. Of those youngsters, 30 percent have elevated blood pressure. High blood pressure in children and adolescents poses an increased risk of hypertension as adults. Hypertension is a known risk factor for heart disease and death, and may also lead to kidney disease and stroke, which ultimately impacts quality of life and life expectancy.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/living/health-fitness/article122793399.html#storylink=cpy