Blood pressure is 'higher than normal' for 1 in 7 kids, says American Heart Association
Fox News
New preliminary research from the American Heart Association found that about 14% of children and teens in the U.S. have high blood pressure or are at risk. Experts weigh in on causes and prevention.
Nearly half of U.S. adults have the condition, according to the AHA, which can raise the risk of heart attack, stroke and other events due to damaged arteries and plaque buildup. "Young people with heart disease and stroke risk factors are more likely to have cardiovascular disease as adults." Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.
Lead researcher Dr. Ahlia Sekkarie and her team analyzed the blood pressure and BMI (body mass index) of 2,600 children and teens between the ages of 8 and 19, obtained from the 2017 to 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.