A new study suggests that consuming high amounts of fruit juices, soft drinks and other sugary beverages during childhood may significantly increase the risk of developing high blood pressure in adulthood and middle age.
The research, conducted by the American Heart Association, followed more than 25,000 Americans who were between 9 and 16 years old over a period of 25 years.
Researchers found that children who drank two or more 12-ounce (355-milliliter) servings of sugary beverages daily had a 52% higher risk of developing hypertension compared with those who consumed such drinks fewer than three times a week.
High blood pressure is a condition in which blood exerts excessive force against artery walls, increasing the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and cognitive decline, including dementia.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 125 million adults in the United States are living with high blood pressure.
Vasanti Malik of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said dietary habits established early in life can have long-lasting effects on health.
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She said high blood pressure is increasingly being diagnosed at younger ages, with rising rates among children, adolescents and young adults, underscoring the importance of early detection and prevention efforts.
