Middle age blood pressure increases stroke and heart risk

A change in blood pressure at middle age could predict a person's risk of heart attack or stroke in later life, according to a recent study.

Men and women who develop blood pressure in middle age or who start out with high blood pressure have an estimated 30 per cent increased risk of having a heart attack or a stroke, researchers at Northwestern University claim.

Previously, experts predicted that a person's risk factor was calculable based on a single blood pressure measurement. However, the recent study proved that blood pressure change between 41 to 55 is a more accurate predictor of risk.

The study confirms the importance of maintaining low blood pressure early in middle age to prevent stroke and heart disease later in life.

Assistant professor and lead author on the study Norrina Allen commented: "We found the longer we can prevent hypertension or postpone it, the lower the risk for cardiovascular disease.

"Even for people with normal blood pressure, we want to make sure they keep it at that level, and it doesn't start increasing over time."

Researchers also previously speculated that impaired breathing in older adults could be a predictor of stroke and heart complications.

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