Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Teenage boys with normal blood pressure may be much more likely to develop a threat to their cardiovascular health in later years than teenage girls. Hi, I'm Dr. Cindy Haines, host of HealthDay TV. High blood pressure - also called hypertension - has become more common in recent years even in children and adolescents. One-third of American adults now have high blood pressure, which puts them at higher risk of stroke, heart attacks, and other health problems.
In a new study from the journal Hypertension, researchers looked at nearly 27,000 people who didn't have high blood pressure at the age of 17. They were followed until the age of 42 to see if they developed hypertension.
As blood pressure in teens increased - even within the normal range - their risk of developing hypertension went up. In addition, the risk of developing hypertension between the ages of 17 and 42 was three to four times higher in men than women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people of any age can help keep their blood pressure normal. Important steps include: Eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables; keeping a healthy weight; staying physically active; and not smoking.
IÕm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news that doctors are reading; health news that matters to you.
