Do you know your child’s blood pressure? Several years ago this was not a very relevant question, but today parents and each child should know their blood pressure readings. This is because in recent years the incidence of hypertension in children and youth has become epidemic.

“Many children and adolescents now have high blood pressure that is going undetected, a study has demonstrated. Doctors described an epidemic of high blood pressure, going hand in hand with the obesity epidemic. They blamed poor diets, salty foods and lack of exercise for the changes.” Health activists have called “for manufacturers of foodstuffs containing high levels of salt and sugar to stop advertising their wares with cartoon characters.” (The Times – August 22, 2007) But you and I have a job to do. Don’t buy foods containing large amounts of salt and/or fats for the family and devise family-based physical activity on a regular basis.

So parents and children, get those blood pressures checked, because what you don’t know could kill you!