A study by the American Heart Association found that 1.3 million American teenagers have high blood pressure.

The American Academy of Pediatrics changed its guidelines of hypertension in 2017, a change which meant 795,000 additional teens had blood pressures which were considered to be high.

The American Heart Association study found that a lower standard for high blood pressure in children better predicts heart disease and can encourage preventative treatments.

“I would call it more of a condition than a disease,” says Dr. Alan Furst of Vanguard Medical Group.

High blood pressure could lead to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease later in love.

“If hypertension is properly dealt with…all those long-term manifestations all can be prevented,” Furst says.

Furst says that the right diet, exercise and healthy body weight can help to lower blood pressure.