Prevention: the first step to avoiding hypertension

In Brazil, high blood pressure (HBP) affects around 15 to 20% of the population over the age of 18. The aim of this study was to measure blood pressure (BP) and assess body mass index in young university students, as well as to provide information on preventative measures. 250 student volunteers were selected and an electronic blood pressure monitor was used to measure BP. Most of the participants were sedentary (52.8%) and 16% were overweight. The BP measurements showed that approximately 21% of the volunteers had borderline BP or grade 1 hypertension. Early detection and ongoing treatment are priority measures that should be adopted to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by hypertension.