More children are being hospitalized with a condition often associated with adults — high blood pressure.
A study in the Journal of Hypertension found that in the last ten years, hospitalizations for high blood pressure nearly doubled in children.
Those affected most were likely to be older than 9-year-old, male, and African American.
Experts say the increase is due in large part to the rise in childhood obesity. But they do note some environmental factors, like diet, may also play a role.
High blood pressure can cause irreversible damage to the heart, kidneys, and eyes and can lead to cardiovascular disease.
