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 A new study suggests that exercise during young adulthood may affect blood pressure later in life.
The researchers measured blood pressure, aerobic fitness and physical activity levels in 4,618 adults who participated in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. The participants were 18-30 years old at the start of the study, and they were reevaluated after two, five, seven, 10, 15 and 20 years.
The researchers found that people with the lowest physical activity had a greater likelihood of developing high blood pressure by the end of the 20-year study. This association remained after adjusting for other risk factors for high blood pressure, including age, gender, cholesterol levels, diet, race and smoking habits.
The researchers estimated that 34 percent of high blood pressure cases could have been prevented if the participants had increased their fitness levels.
However, the results of this study are preliminary. Additional research is needed to confirm these early findings.
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- Carnethon MR, Evans NS, Church TS, et al. Joint Associations of Physical Activity and Aerobic Fitness on the Development of Incident Hypertension. Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults. Hypertension. 2010 Jun 1. View Abstract
- Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com
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