Hypertension Clinic

The Hypertension Clinic at Children’s Mercy provides specialized care for children with high blood pressure. Our clinic team includes pediatric nephrologists and highly trained nurse practitioners who work together with your family to find the best course of treatment for your child. 

What is hypertension?

Hypertension is a medical condition where a person’s blood pressure is too high. Blood pressure – the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels – is an important measure of health. Hypertension can harm blood vessels and lead to other health problems if it is not treated. 

About 1 to 2 percent of healthy children have hypertension. The rate is higher for children with obesity, kidney disease and other chronic diseases. It’s important to identify and treat hypertension in children to help avoid changes in the blood vessels that may lead to heart disease when they are an adult. 

What to expect during your visit

When you come to the Hypertension Clinic, we will do an initial evaluation. The evaluation includes: 

• Questions about your child’s medical history and current medications/treatments. 
• Review of any prior test results related to hypertension.
• A complete physical examination.
• Additional specialized testing if needed. We often partner with pediatric radiologists, cardiologists, sleep specialists, weight management specialists and/or nutritionists, depending on your child’s specific situation. 

After the clinic team has examined your child, they will work with you on a care plan. This can include: 

• Teaching you how to monitor your child’s blood pressure at home.
• Talking through lifestyle changes such as healthy eating and consistent exercise.
• Prescribing medications that lower blood pressure.
• Making referrals to other specialists if needed.