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Blood pressure variability, prehypertension, and hypertension in adolescents

Authors Batisky D 

Received 18 May 2011

Accepted for publication 24 March 2012

Published 7 May 2012 Volume 2012:3 Pages 43—50

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/AHMT.S15942

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3



Donald L Batisky

Emory Children's Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

Abstract: Medical conditions diagnosed during adolescence may have long term impacts on the health of an individual. As a result, identifying cardiovascular risk factors earlier in life such as prehypertension (pre-HTN) and hypertension (HTN) can have significant benefits across an individual's lifespan. Diagnosing elevated blood pressure (BP) during adolescence can be difficult, partially due to the natural variability that occurs during this period of life. Levels of BP that define adolescent prehypertension/hypertension are provided as well as an abridged review of BP variability across research groups. Strategies for BP management of adolescents are considered, with the primary focus on nonpharmacologic interventions.

Keywords: HTN, pre-HTN, overweight, obesity, BP, body mass index, BMI

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