The modifiable risk factors of hypertension in youths

Abstract

Objective: To verify the modifiable cause(s) of hypertension in youths.
Method: It is a prospective observational study, it was done in out patient private clinic in Kerbala city during the period between May 2004 and October 2006 .three hundred and fifty persons were included, the ages of all persons ranged between 20 and 35years, but 236 were hypertensive and 114 were normotensive.The main parameters that were studied included; body mass index (BMI) ,total serum cholesterol and smoking. Results: All the hypertensive patients belong to families with history of hypertension, 80.5% of them were hypercholestremic,64.4% were obese and 53.8% were smoker. On the other side, only 21% of the persons of the normotensive group belonged to families with hypertension , none of them were obese, but 7.9% were hypercholestremic and 13.1% were smoker.
Conclusion: hypercholestremia,obesity and smoking are a modifiable causes of hypertension in youth. Early recognition, education and treatment of hypercholestremia plus weight reduction and cessation of smoking may prevent or reduce the severity of hypertension and hence its hazardous complication later on.