Study shows high blood pressure affects young people

[WCCO-TV, May 25, 2011] Thirty percent of Americans have high blood pressure. Usually it’s a worry for older adults. But now there is reason to believe it’s a growing threat for young people.

The University of North Carolina looked at data on more than 14,000 people, men and women, from ages 24 to 42 and found that roughly 20 percent had problems with hypertension.

That means they are at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Shalini Bobra, MD, of the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital is concerned that at least half of them probably don’t know it.