- Research indicates that elevated blood pressure in childhood significantly increases the risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease by mid-life.
- Children aged seven with blood pressure measurements in the top 10 per cent for their age, sex, and height face a 40 to 50 per cent higher risk of death over the subsequent five decades.
- These preliminary findings, presented at an American Heart Association meeting, stem from a study of 38,000 children tracked from 1959, with over 500 cardiovascular deaths recorded by 2016.
- Dr Alexa Freedman of Northwestern University emphasised the importance of early blood pressure screening in children to promote optimal cardiovascular health.
- Experts recommend developing heart-healthy habits from childhood, including a balanced diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and annual blood pressure checks from age three.
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