Why childhood high blood pressure raises your risk of death later

Having elevated blood pressure, formally known as hypertension, in childhood can increase the risk of cardiovascular-related death in adulthood by 40% to 50%.

That’s according to recent research by the American Heart Association (AHA).

Using the National Death Index, researchers reviewed the survival or cause of death of 38,000 adults who had participated in a study that began in 1959 and had their blood pressure taken at age 7 as part of the study. Accounting for both demographics and childhood body mass index (BMI), the researchers determined that children with a high blood pressure reading at the time of measurement were far more likely to die of cardiovascular disease in adulthood than those who did not have a high reading. Of the 2,837 participants who died by 2016, 534 of those deaths were due to cardiovascular disease.

Furthermore, research published by the AHA suggests one in seven children living in the U.S. have high blood pressure.

“Blood pressure readings are an important measure of health – even in children,” says Dr. Joan Hoffman, a pediatric cardiologist at Advocate Children’s Hospital. “Having high blood pressure increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack and stroke. This study underscores the impact high blood pressure has on an individual’s overall health and life expectancy.”

Dr. Hoffman says high blood pressure can be caused by a variety of factors, and it can also be a symptom of an underlying health issue. In children without underlying causes, lifestyle changes, including increasing physical activity and eating more whole foods and fewer processed foods, can help manage high blood pressure. In some cases, medication may also help.

“Detecting and treating high blood pressure as soon as possible is a very important step in taking care of our health,” she says.