Physical Activity Barriers in Adolescent Hypertension Patients

One of the most prevalent chronic disorders in children, especially teenagers, is hypertension . The prevalence of hypertension has significantly increased in recent years, particularly with the rise in obesity . Primary hypertension, also known as essential hypertension, which was once thought to be an adult condition, is becoming more prevalent in the pediatric population, partly because of the obesity pandemic . Children who are obese have a three times higher risk of developing hypertension than children who are not obese . Based on the etiology, hypertension can be divided into two types: primary or essential hypertension, which has no known cause, and secondary hypertension, which has a known cause. Stage I (mild) hypertension is the most common symptom of primary hypertension, which is also linked to a favorable family history . Very young children, those with stage II hypertension, and those with clinical signs suggesting systemic disorders linked to hypertension should all be evaluated for secondary hypertension. An underlying vascular, neurological, endocrine, or renal parenchymal illness may cause secondary hypertension .

It has been demonstrated that hypertension is a significant, controllable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and that it is linked to atherosclerosis in children. Additionally, in patients with hypertension who were monitored from infancy to adulthood, it was discovered that the unfavorable cardiac alterations and vascular damage linked to hypertension were linked to early cardiovascular disease in adults.Therefore, the key to preventing cardiovascular disease in children and adolescents-especially when risk factors like obesity, diabetes, or chronic renal disease are present-is early diagnosis and effective treatment of hypertension.

Insufficient exercise and sedentary lifestyles are additional risk factors for pediatric hypertension. Low levels of physical activity and hypertension have a continuous, temporal, and independent association, according to epidemiological research . According to data, 80% of kids and teenagers in 105 countries do not engage in the recommended amount of physical exercise, which is at least 60 minutes of moderate to strenuous activity per day.Additionally, many kids and teenagers engage in sedentary activities for more than 4 hours per day, even though less than 2 hours per day are advised for screen-based entertainment (such as watching TV, using a computer, and playing video games). According to research, children and adolescents who watch television or spend too much time on screens had lower fitness levels, worse self-esteem, less prosocial behavior, and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Prospective research regularly demonstrates that exercise shields adults from high blood pressure. Physical activity has been dubbed a "poly-drug" for its preventive and therapeutic effects in reducing the global health burden of cardiovascular disease, increasing physiological function, and slowing cardiovascular aging.Investigating physical activity barrier in teenage hypertension patients is vital in light of all these factors as well as studies on adolescents' inadequate physical activity. The literature is lacking studies examining the obstacles to physical exercise faced by people with adolescent hypertension, hence this topic is open for investigation.

For Primary Hypertension

Inclusion criteria

• Being 10-19 years old,
• Being diagnosed with primary hypertension,
• Being clinically stable and no drug/drug dose changes for the last four weeks,
• Determined to be voluntary to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Having a neurological, cognitive or orthopedic disease that will affect the measurements,
• Severe respiratory system disease (FEV1 <35%; FVC <50%),
• Having acute infection,
• Having malignancy,
• Receiving hormone replacement therapy,
• Body mass index >40 kg/m²,
• Ejection fraction less than 50%,
• Having uncontrolled hypertension,
• Individuals with diabetes will not be included in the study.

For Secondary Hypertension

Inclusion criteria

• Being 10-19 years old,
• Being diagnosed with secondary hypertension,
• Being clinically stable and no drug/drug dose changes for the last four weeks,
• Not being under high-dose glucocorticoid therapy (2 mg/kg/day),
• Not taking intravenous biologic or conventional immunosuppressive therapy (including pulsed steroids) in the past month
• Determined to be voluntary to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Having a neurological, cognitive or orthopedic disease that will affect the measurements,
• Severe respiratory system disease (FEV1 <35%; FVC <50%),
• Having acute infection,
• Having malignancy,
• Receiving hormone replacement therapy,
• Body mass index >40 kg/m²,
• Ejection fraction less than 50%,
• Having uncontrolled hypertension,
• Individuals with diabetes will not be included in the study.