White Coat Hypertension Strikes Children, Too

A doctor's "white coat" can cause blood pressure in children to rise, according to results of a study presented at the Fifteenth Scientific Meeting of the American Society of Hypertension.

White coat hypertension is a phenomena where the presence of a doctor causes a patient's blood pressure to rise. It can lead to an incorrect diagnosis of hypertension and may lead to unnecessary diagnostic studies and inappropriate medication use.

In one of the few studies conducted in children, Dr. Jonathan M. Sorof, and his colleagues from the Houston Pediatric Adolescent Hypertension Program (HPAHP) at The University of Texas-Houston Medical School examined the white coat hypertension phenomena in more than 100 children.

"We found white coat hypertension is common," Dr. Sorof says. "Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be used to overcome the white coat effect."

Ambulatory monitoring requires patients to wear a small non-invasive device. The device automatically measures blood pressure every few minutes for 24 hours or longer. Blood pressure is measured while the patient is active or relaxed, asleep or awake.

Nearly 50 million Americans have high blood pressure. Commonly referred to as the silent killer, untreated hypertension prematurely ages the body's arteries and can lead to strokes, heart attacks and kidney failure, often without warning.

- From The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center

Secure Children Properly in Shopping Carts

Data from the National Safe Kids Campaign indicate the number of children ages 5 and under injured in shopping-cart incidents has increased more than 30 percent since 1985.

"Falls from shopping cart seats and baskets cause the most injuries, although other injuries can occur," says Dr. Jerald Zarin, medical director of Texas Children's Health Plan at Texas Children's Hospital. "When children stand up, their chances of falling or tipping the cart increase."

Parents should bring and use safety belts to restrain children in shopping cart seats. They also need to stay close to the cart and not let children stand in carts or ride on the bottom. It is best not to let a child push or steer the shopping cart.

- From Texas Children's Hospital

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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