A new study suggests healthy young adults may already show hidden biological signs linked to future high blood pressure.
Healthy young adults may already be showing early signs of future high blood pressure and heart disease, according to a new North-West University (NWU) PhD study that found certain kidney markers in urine could help identify those at greater risk years before the conditions are normally detected.
The research, conducted by Dr Anja Degenaar on kidney and cardiovascular health, suggests that changes in kidney health may provide healthcare professionals with an opportunity to intervene before serious complications develop.
Using information from the African-PREDICT study, which followed more than 1 200 young South Africans between the ages of 20 and 30, Degenaar explored the link between kidney health, blood pressure and heart health.
"High blood pressure and kidney disease are often called silent conditions because people may not know they have them until much later," she says. "Our findings show that changes in kidney health can already be detected in young adults, creating an opportunity for earlier prevention and treatment."
