Study Finds Significant Increase In Blood Pressure Levels Among Children, Adolescents

U.S. researchers who analyzed health data from 3,200 children and adolescents found in two time periods (1988-1994 and 1999-2008) found that the risk of high blood pressure rose 27 percent in 13 years. The researchers suggested that the elevated blood pressure readings were probably due to high body mass, larger waistlines and excess sodium consumption. The elevated readings did not establish that the children were hypertensive, only that the risk of hypertension had risen significantly. High blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke, heart disease and kidney failure, accounting for about 350,000 preventable deaths a year in the United States.