Adults in their thirties could be facing a significantly higher risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke in later life, even if their blood pressure readings fall within what is traditionally considered the 'normal' range, according to groundbreaking new research.
The Silent Threat to Young Hearts
A comprehensive study conducted by experts at University College London has uncovered that individuals with 'normal but high' blood pressure during their thirties and forties develop substantially reduced blood flow to their heart by the time they reach 77 years old. This reduction dramatically increases their likelihood of experiencing major cardiovascular events.
Globally, more than 1.3 billion people live with high blood pressure, which remains the leading cause of heart attack and stroke in the United Kingdom. The condition is particularly dangerous because it often presents no symptoms at all, leading to approximately half of those affected remaining unaware until serious complications like kidney failure or dementia develop.
How Blood Pressure Trajectories Predict Future Health
The research team followed 505 participants from the National Survey of Health and Development study, all born in March 1946, over an impressive 40-year period. They regularly monitored blood pressure at ages 36, 43, 53, 62, 69, and 77, creating detailed lifetime profiles of cardiovascular health.
The findings revealed that every 10-point increase in systolic blood pressure between the ages of 36 and 69 was associated with up to a six per cent reduction in blood flow to the heart at age 77. The systolic reading represents the top number in blood pressure measurements and indicates the pressure at which blood pumps around the body.
Dr Gaby Captur, a consultant cardiologist at the Royal Free Hospital in London and study author, explained the significance: 'Small steady increases in blood pressure through adulthood, even if you have a "normal but high" reading, can be quietly damaging the heart, long before symptoms appear. Your blood pressure in your thirties, we found, can affect the heart 40 years later.'
A New Approach to Cardiovascular Prevention
The research, supported by the British Heart Foundation and published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, identified that the most significant impact occurred when systolic blood pressure rose from 120 to 140mmHg between ages 43 and 63. During this critical period, every 10-point increase was linked to an up to 12 per cent reduction in blood flow to the heart in later life.
Dr Cristian Topriceanu, PhD Fellow at UCL and lead author of the study, emphasised: 'It's not just how high your blood pressure is, but also how fast it rises over time, that predicts how well, or how poorly, blood is able to flow to the heart in your later years. This gives doctors a new way to think about risk – by looking at blood pressure trajectories, not just one-off readings.'
The study found that individuals whose blood pressure remained consistently high from age 36 were 33 per cent more likely to suffer a major cardiovascular event, even after accounting for factors like age, sex, BMI, exercise levels, and smoking and drinking habits.
Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific & Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, praised the research, stating: 'Blood pressure is a silent killer, and the most important cause of heart attacks, stroke and early death in the UK each year. This interesting research suggests that we should be encouraging people to regular blood pressure checks from a younger age, when it's often much easier to control.'
The findings come as NHS data shows alarming increases in heart attacks among younger adults, with the 25-29 year-old demographic experiencing a 95 per cent rise over the past decade. While current guidelines typically recommend medication only when systolic readings exceed 140mmHg, experts now suggest that managing blood pressure from a young age and keeping it below 120mmHg could be crucial for long-term heart health.
