High Blood Pressure Risk Identified During Childhood

New Zealand researchers have discovered a way to identify risk factors for high blood pressure and other health conditions during childhood. The findings are published in the journal Hypertension.

High blood pressure, a health issue that's oftentimes described as a "silent killer," puts many individuals at a greater risk of heart disease. The biggest problem is that many are unaware that they even have a health issue until the problem becomes much worse.

In this recent study, researchers examined blood pressure information from participants collected between the ages of 7 to 38, consisting of 1,000 individuals born in Dunedin between 1972-3 as part of the Dunedin Study. Researchers followed the participants from birth to present, identifying study members that were at an increased risk for high blood pressure.

Findings revealed that over a third of participants were at risk of developing clinically high blood pressure levels by early mid-life. "These included being male, having a family history of high blood pressure, being first born and being born lower birthweight," said lead study author Dr Reremoana Theodore, in a news release. "This new information is useful for screening purposes to help clinicians identify young people who may develop high blood pressure later in adulthood."

Those individuals in the higher blood pressure groups were also more likely to have other negative health related conditions by age 38, including higher blood cholesterol levels and those with a higher body mass index (BMI). Those who had smoked over extended periods were also at an increased risk for high blood pressure.

Dunedin Study Director, Professor Richie Poulton, notes that certain lifestyle factors can help potentially change the odds. For instance, maintaining a healthy body weight from early life, never starting or quitting smoking along with lowering blood pressure levels over time can help individuals at risk lessen their chances for this health issue.

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