Hypertension in Children and Adolescents.

Abstract

In brief For hypertensive children and adolescents who participate in sports, hygienic interventions may already be adequate-or may be unachievable. Yet, the decision to initiate pharmacotherapy is difficult. Physicians must weigh factors such as the presence of end-organ damage or a family history of early hypertensive complications with possible adverse effects of antihypertensive drugs, including depressant effects on the heart and reduced exercise tolerance. The authors favor long-lasting ACE inhibitors or calcium channel blockers, which usually do not alter heart rate and are relatively free of side effects.