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CDC: Youth Hypertension Rates Decreasing In U.S.

Young people are showing signs of high blood pressure less frequently, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study focused on youth ages 12 to 19 in the united states between 2001 and 2016.

Sandra Jackson, with the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, said hypertension rates decreased from 7 percent to about 4 percent.

“In a classroom of 30 you’d see about one youth aged 12 to 19 who has hypertension and then another three more would have elevated blood pressure," Jackson said. "Which used to be called pre-hypertension. It could be related to improved diet quality, better screening and prevention or more antihypertensive medication use.”  

Jackson said youth who do have high blood pressure can manage it by eating lower sodium foods and maintaining a healthy weight.

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Senior field correspondent Bridget Dowd has a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.