High Teen Blood Pressure Linked to Adult Heart Disease

A link has been found between high blood pressure in teens and heart complications later in life, according to a study published in the Journal of American Medical Association.

"Current [cardiovascular] risk prediction models take into account BP (blood pressure) level only at the time of risk prediction, usually in middle or older age, and do not consider the potential effect of BP levels earlier in life or the changes in BP levels over time," authors of the study wrote.

The study analyzed the blood pressure patterns of 4681 participants  from young adulthood to middle age -- a period of 25 years.

What they found was that participants with frequently elevated blood pressure prior to middle-age were 25 percent likely to develop heart complications later in life. Some of the complications included various heart diseases, and more commonly, Coronary Artery Calcification, the unhealthy hardening of arteries which hinders the heart's ability to effectively pump blood.

High blood pressure is caused by a number of things, including unhealthy eating habits, weight gain, and stress. It's also hereditary, meaning that those unlucky enough to be born with genes that encourage high blood pressure will have to work harder to avoid coronary complications.

Still, at the end of the day, how one maintains their blood pressure is up to the individual. According to the study, the current emphasis on blood pressure management tends to begin after the first signs of coronary complications in mid-adulthood. If what the study has revealed proves to be true, blood pressure management earlier in one's life could lead to a healthier adulthood.

The study was published in the Journal of American Medical Association on February 5.