Inactive Youth Raises Blood Pressure Risk

Not exercising as a young adult increases the risk of high blood pressure in later years, new research finds. The study kept track of 4,618 men and women for 20 years. At the start of the study, they were 18 to 30 years old. They completed a treadmill test and a questionnaire about their exercise habits. Researchers examined them again 6 times in the next 20 years. About 1,000 people developed high blood pressure. Researchers adjusted their numbers to account for factors that raise high blood pressure risk, such as smoking. They found that people’s early exercise habits still were a good predictor of risk. People who were inactive or not fit as young adults were more likely to develop high blood pressure. Researchers estimated that more physical fitness could prevent 1 out of 3 cases of high blood pressure. The study appeared in the journal Hypertension.