In the spring of 2020, the European Society of Cardiology presented findings of a long term study of children that showed early habits contributed to a higher risk for heart disease. This was one of the first studies to link risk factors in childhood with the risk for heart disease later in life.
Over 4,700 children were screened for blood pressure and weight and then screened again 11 year later with the addition of an ultrasound of their arteries. If a child had high blood pressure at the first screening, they had a 33% chance of having a thicker lining of their artery 11 years later. For those that were obese at the first screening their risk for a thicker artery was 38%. Having both high blood pressure and obesity at both screenings increased their risk for a thicker artery lining by 50% to over 60%. Both high blood pressure and obesity in childhood causes negative changes in blood vessels later in life. In this study 14 to 29-year olds were already developing subclinical heart disease.
Physical activity and a healthy diet can help to prevent high blood pressure and obesity. Starting healthy habits young is very important.
