Hypertension
The Houston Pediatric and Adolescent Hypertension Program (HPAHP) at UTHealth Houston was created specifically to treat infants, children, adolescents and young adults with high blood pressure. While high blood pressure is more common in adults, children of all ages can develop hypertension as well. If left untreated, high blood pressure damages many organs of the body, including the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.
UTHealth Houston’s dedicated Pediatric Hypertension program is the only one in the Greater Houston area staffed by a multidisciplinary team of physicians including hypertension specialists from both nephrology and cardiology. This team specializes in evaluating and treating children of all ages with high blood pressure. Clinical staff together with other providers work together to give the most consistent, comprehensive, and personalized care.
Some children develop high blood pressure as a result of kidney disease, such as reflux nephropathy and polycystic kidney disease or because of abnormal blood vessels in their kidney (renal artery stenosis). Other children have high blood pressure because of endocrine disease like thyroid problems, while others have essential hypertension where no secondary cause can be determined. No matter what the underlying cause of a child’s high blood pressure, this team of specialists in the Hypertension Program works to find the ideal treatment plan.
Hypertension Program patients are cared for by a multidisciplinary team including physicians, a nutritionist, and a nurse who specialize in identifying the different needs of children with high blood pressure and navigating through the health care system to put a treatment plan in place. Plans might include school-based blood pressure monitoring and/or home monitoring programs to track blood pressure as well as guidance regarding medication administration and compliance.
The mission of the Hypertension Program is to maintain a systematic, consistent, and effective approach to evaluating children, adolescents, and young adults with high blood pressure, while assuring coordinated and individualized care tailored to fit the needs of each patient.
Team
Director: Joshua A Samuels, MD, MPH
Pediatric Nephrologist: Joyce Samuel, MD, MS
Ruby Cerda, RN
Albita Chaires, MA
Hoai Nguyen, LVN
Make an Appointment: 832-325-6516