FollowTest of urine can predict the blood pressure level in children, a study suggests.
According to a new study, measuring sodium in a child’s urine may help doctors identify those at risk of having high blood pressure.
Researchers carried study on 19 children between the age group 10 and 19 and found that of the eight who retained sodium seven had high blood pressure.
The children are unable to excrete sodium when in stress. So, they were asked to provide a urine sample before and after their visit to a physician.
High blood pressure can develop over time if the body fails to regulate sodium. Sodium retention increases fluid in the blood vessels, which can impact blood pressure. It is a serious risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
“Hypertension is no longer an adult disease,” said Gregory Harshfield, study senior researcher and director of the Institute of the Georgia Prevention Center at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University, Augusta.
“The results of this test could also provide useful information that could help pediatricians better manage and treat hypertension in their patients,” Harshfield said.
The study was presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association in New Orleans.
