Non-pharmacological intervention in primary hypertension in childhood

In children with blood pressure levels persistently in the upper part of the distribution and without evidence for known causes of hypertension, one may ask which approach should be used to lower blood pressure. In general, non-pharmacological intervention will be preferred over drug treatment as a first choice in children with primary hypertension. No specific non-pharmacological treatment is available for children with high blood pressure. The main objective of this review is to underscore the need for further intervention studies in hypertensive children. Although the scientific evidence is rather scanty, some general recommendations concerning body weight, physical activity and fitness, dietary intake of electrolytes and relaxation procedures can be made. In obese children, weight reduction, combined with increase of physical activity, is the measure of first choice to lower blood pressure. In children with a high sympathetic outflow, as evidenced by high levels of circulating catecholamines, increase of physical activity and use of relaxation procedures may be the first approach to lower blood pressure. In children with evidence for disturbances in electrolyte metabolism, as evidenced by high intralymphocytic sodium, low serum calcium, or high PTH, a dietary approach to high blood pressure may be used. In these children, an increase of potassium intake or calcium intake seems a promising way to lower blood pressure.