Hypertension Detection and Treatment Program

Children with elevated blood pressure may have an underlying disorder, such as kidney disease, or a heart condition, such as coarctation of aorta (narrowing of the aorta). Elevated blood pressure can run in families, and it can also be a consequence of having increased weight. Regardless of the cause, it is important to work with your health care team to lower blood pressure. Lifestyle changes are the cornerstone of management, though medications may sometimes be needed. 

The Importance of Pediatric Specialists

One of the first steps to diagnosing hypertension is confirming that blood pressure is consistently elevated. Measuring blood pressure in young children can be challenging, so pediatric hypertension specialists often use several methods to confirm elevations, including manual measurement with a stethoscope, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and sometimes at-home blood pressure monitoring. Because visiting the doctor can cause anxiety, these additional measurements help rule out “white coat hypertension,” a temporary rise in blood pressure that occurs in a medical setting.

In some cases, partnering with healthcare providers in the community can help monitor your child’s blood pressure over time. 

Because the cause of hypertension in young patients is often different from adults, it is important that your child sees a pediatric specialist with the expertise to evaluate and treat the condition in young patients. 

About Our Program

The Hypertension Detection and Treatment Program at Children’s National is a specialized program coordinated through our Division of Nephrology. It is led by Tammy M. Brady, MD, PhD, who serves as the program’s medical director and as the director of Hypertension and Kidney Health Research at the Children’s National Research Institute. Learn more about Dr. Brady.

The program team works closely with the Children's National Nuclear Medicine Program and the Division of Cardiology to perform a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation to understand the cause of your child's elevated blood pressure and to determine if there are any early signs of injury related to the high blood pressure.

Treatment and Continued Care

The Hypertension Detection and Treatment team works closely with children and families to educate them about lifestyle changes that can help control blood pressure, which is always the first step in management. Children meet with a dietician to discuss food choices and dietary changes that support better health. We also partner with behavioral psychology specialists to help children develop individualized, heart-healthy goals aimed at improving both overall well-being and cardiovascular health.

Treatment for some forms of hypertension in children may require an interventional procedure, such as selective catheterization or angioplasty of the kidney blood vessels. If your child needs an interventional procedure, the program coordinates the procedure and follow-up care with our specialists. Some children may also require medications to help lower their blood pressure. Medication choices are individualized, considering each child’s unique circumstances. Our team works closely with children and families to develop strategies to support medication adherence, minimize side effects and ensure safe and effective blood pressure control.