Atherosclerosis can be predicted by changes in blood pressure Study shows 25% of people with uncontrolled hypertension had the disease.

According to a new study, published online on 04 February in JAMA , people have increasing blood pressure levels in adults are more prone to develop atherosclerosis and heart problems . The study was conducted by researchers from the department of preventive medicine at Northwestern University (USA ) .

Atherosclerosis occurs when fat and cholesterol plaques accumulate within the artery of a person. These plaques can limit blood flow , leading to serious and potentially fatal problems such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. Because of atherosclerosis not cause symptoms until an artery block , many people are unaware they have this condition before an emergency .

Experts know that high blood pressure is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and heart disease but is a factor taken into account only for patients in middle age or older . However , the new study shows that the higher the blood pressure changes in an individual over time , the greater the likelihood of a person developing heart disease .

The research followed the blood pressure readings of 4,681 people over a period of 25 years from the mid-1980s , when people in the study were between 18 and 30 years . To measure the probability of heart disease , the researchers examined the amount of " coronary artery calcification " ( CAC ) - the measure shows how atherosclerosis might be affecting the arteries of the heart.

From these data, the researchers were able to detect five different blood pressure trajectories :

 - 22% of the participants maintained low blood pressure throughout the study period ;

- 42 % had moderate levels of blood pressure throughout the study ;

- 19 % had very high blood pressure during the follow-up;

- 5 % started the study with high blood pressure, which increased throughout the study period .

The group with the highest levels of CAC were participants whose blood pressure increased over the study period - about 25 % of them had a high score of coronary artery calcification . On the other hand , the group that continued low blood pressure , only 4% had a high CAC score .

High blood pressure has been used to predict the risk of stroke and likelihood of fatal heart attack , so the authors find that the patterns of blood pressure could also be used to predict atherosclerosis and its losses along the life.

According to the authors , further research is needed to examine the utility of the specific trajectories of blood pressure in predicting cardiovascular disease risk , and if it would be possible to treat arteriosclerosis early.

Monthly Plan : Take 30 steps and stay away from hypertension

The Ministry of Health indicate that hypertension affects 22.7 % of Brazilians in adulthood . In the elderly, this percentage is even higher - 59.7 % of the elderly suffers from hypertension in Brazil . Responsible for 40 % of cases of myocardial infarction , 80% of accidents brain ( stroke ) and 25 % of cases of end stage renal vascular hypertension is a silent disease that needs care for life.

A nephrologist Kathy Ortega , the Brazilian Society of Hypertension says that obesity and physical inactivity are the main risk factors for the disease . " However , there are several habits and health conditions that can contribute to the box ," he says . The care for prevention and control of disease is daily . Check out the strategy in a list of 30 tips for fighting the disease :