What is high blood pressure?

Also known as: hypertension.

Blood pressure is a measurement of the force that blood exerts on the arteries as it flows through them. The pressure when the heart is pumping is higher and is known as the systolic pressure. The pressure when the heart relaxes (and fills) is lower and known as the diastolic pressure. Normal blood pressure in children varies with age, sex and height. Charts are available which indicate normal ranges.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is defined as a child's blood pressure greater than that of  95% of their normal peers.

---

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM