Heart Disease Begins At Childhood
A study by the Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health in New Orleans suggests that the route to heart disease begins in childhood.
The researchers state that two of the biggest threats to heart health that can be traced to childhood are prehypertension and obesity. Prehypertension is blood pressure just below the official high blood pressure reading of 140/90.
Dr. Gerald Berenson, a professor of cardiology at Tulane, says that “coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension and heart disease all begin in childhood.”
The findings came from the Bogalusa Heart Study, which is the longest and most detailed study of a biracial population of children and young adults in the world. The goal of the study is to determine the early natural history of cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Berenson further goes on to state that, “obesity in childhood is the only consistent factor predicting cardiac enlargement in adults. It also predicts adult vascular stiffness,” which is a medical term for what is commonly called hardening of the arteries.
Dr. Keith Ferdinand, a clinical professor of medicine at Emory University, says the new findings are important because they show that “heart disease and hypertension start early in life, in adolescence and even in pre-teen years.” He also states that “Based on this new research, which confirms prior findings, in order to decrease the rates of hypertension and heart disease, we should target our young people.”
These are important findings and further strengthen the need to prevent childhood obesity. Lowering obesity levels in America, especially with children, should be a major concern. I just posted about how obesity levels are alarmingly high, and now it is shown that heart disease may originate in children.
Reference: MedLine Plus
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What an eye opening post! You have a lot of important information here. Well written also.
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Thank you for your comment and the compliment. A blog review sounds great. I will drop you a line soon.
I am 23 years old ,i think is considered young.I have heart pain since last year.