For Young Adults, Borderline High Blood Pressure a Threat

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Drug treatment isn't a real option for prehypertension in young people, Pletcher said. "We don't have evidence that treating prehypertension in young adulthood prevents cardiovascular disease, so we don't recommend it," he said.

But physicians should pay attention to borderline high blood pressure in young people, and should recommend preventive measures if it is found, Pletcher said.

"We recommend lifestyle modifications, more exercise, better diet, and so on, to improve cardiovascular health," he said.

Devereux agreed. "Exercise, better diet, getting away from smoking, avoiding things which can be damaging to the arteries," he advised.

More information

Learn more about high blood pressure and prehypertension from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.