Dr. Simon Abraham, a general medical practitioner, has warned that children are not exempt from developing hypertension. Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Saturday, he noted that even young children can suffer from the condition, citing a case of a three-year-old child with secondary hypertension.
He explained that hypertension can be classified as either primary or secondary. Primary hypertension may be hereditary or caused by excessive salt intake, while secondary hypertension can result from kidney disease or issues in other vital organs. According to Abraham, around 80% of cases of secondary hypertension have unknown causes, which is why it is often referred to as essential hypertension, while about 20% of hypertensive patients fall into the secondary category.
The doctor emphasized that hypertension can be managed with medication but can have catastrophic consequences if left untreated. He urged young people to regularly check their blood pressure to prevent serious outcomes like stroke, which can result in sudden death.
Dr. Abraham explained that a stroke occurs when the blood vessels in the brain rupture due to high pressure from the heart, which can affect speech, vision, or movement, depending on the part of the brain affected. He stressed that this is the primary danger of untreated hypertension.
