- Kids who grow up in warmer climates and in walkable neighborhoods may have lower blood pressure than those who live where it's cooler and people drive everywhere, a new European study suggests.
Exposure to negative lifestyle factors in pregnancy, such as obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, and alcohol and tobacco consumption have long been established as heart disease risk factors for mothers, researchers note in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. It's possible that mothers in walkable areas got more exercise during pregnancy, contributing to lower blood pressure for their offspring, the study team concludes.
Eating too little fish, or too much, were both associated with higher blood pressure in kids, the study also found. While the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are beneficial for overall cardiovascular health, fish contaminated by chemicals or metals could reduce any positive effects of omega-3 fatty acids, the study team notes.