Adolescence: time to test

Adolescence is the life stage when high blood pressure is often first observed. Monitoring may not be commonly performed in adolescence, however, because of the false assumption that only older people have high blood pressure. Such thinking leads to the danger that chronic high blood pressure or prehypertension may go unnoticed for long periods. Prehypertension in youth is a known risk factor for the development of hypertension later in life.

High blood pressure is more prevalent in males than females at young ages, because young men typically have greater exposure to risk factors (such as tobacco and the harmful use of alcohol), lower use of preventive health care and weaker social ties than women. Women’s exposure to such risk factors is increasing, however, and they must consider the importance of their blood pressure as they approach the time when they may want to have children.

The adolescent years are crucial for screening to ascertain a young woman’s blood pressure status as she enters her childbearing years. During this time, she needs to be especially aware of chronic hypertension before conception, as this condition may necessitate a higher level of care before and during pregnancy to ensure the best outcome for both mother and child, or may limit her ability to have children.

Preconception hypertension highlights the importance of a woman’s making an informed choice about whether to have a baby. Maternal hypertension can carry significant risks for both mother and child.