ABSTRACT
Hypertension is recognized as a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity. Early detection of prehypertensive stage may help an individual to lead a healthy life by altering the life style. The present study was attempted to compare blood pressure response and anthropometric parameter in children of hypertensive and non hypertensive parents. The study was conducted on total 120 participants, 60 in control and 60 in test group. Cardiovascular response to stress was determined by Harvard step test. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure response to exercise were measured in supine position before exercise and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10 minutes after the exercise. The results were expressed as Mean±SD and analyzed using Independent t- test (unpaired t-test) for comparison between the control group and the test group and one way ANOVA test. The “P” value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In the present study, body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC) were found to be significantly higher in normotensive individuals with family history of hypertension. Stress induced changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP),diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR) were found to be significantly higher in normotensive individuals with family history of hypertension as compared to normotensive individuals without family history of hypertension. The increased blood pressure and heart rate observed in the individual of hypertensive parents emphasizes the importance of genetic influence on hypertension. This blood pressure elevation may be considered as a permanent abnormality characterizing a prehypertensive stage early in life.