“A STUDY ON BLOOD PRESSURE LEVELS IN ADOLESCENT SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN IN CHITTOOR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH”

Hypertension is one of the commonest diseases with an estimated worldwide prevalence of 1 billion. Data from the 3rd National Health and Nutritional Assessment Survey reveals that in US, one-third of people were unaware of this problem and another one third had blood pressure control below established goals (JNC, 1997). To add to this is the observation in the 7th Joint National Committee on Prevention, detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure report that each increment of 20 mmHg in systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic pressure doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease (JNC, 2003). There are no similar data in children where the age, gender and height need to be taken into account while interpreting blood pressure values.