PRIMARY school students' blood pressure will be checked in the classroom under a pilot program to help lower the risk of stroke and heart disease in adulthood.
The Murdoch Children's Research Institute study, involving Christ Church Grammar School in South Yarra, Vic, aims to address the silent precursors of heart problems such as high blood pressure and thickening of the arteries that begin to form in the early years.
The Healthy Hearts @ School Study will involve Grade 3-6 students, with parental/carer consent, having their blood pressure checked at school.
The families of those students who record a high blood pressure reading will receive a letter to give to their GP who can then refer them to The Royal Children's Hospital or their local paediatrician for specialist follow-up.
The research team will also run a heart health education session at the school, which will cover how the heart and arteries work, what blood pressure is and strategies for good heart health such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and getting the recommended amount of sleep.
A second round of blood pressure measurements will also be taken in a subset of children involved in the initial screening via a 24-hour blood pressure monitor.
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