A new research claimed that 'normal' level of blood pressure at 17 can still predict high blood pressure at early adulthood.

The research from Ben-Gurion University also discovered that males in their teenage are three to four times more likely to have hypertension in early adulthood as compared to girls.

Researcher Dr. Assaf Rudich, an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry at BGU stated, “It is increasing along with the obesity epidemic, but regrettably, young adults who are otherwise healthy frequently are not screened for becoming hypertensive.”

The research disclosed that in males, there is a strong association between BP level and body mass index at 17 - entailing that BMI is a vital factor in progression of high blood pressure regardless of 'normal' blood pressure.

For females, obesity heightened the risk of high blood pressure, but researchers think that estrogen may defend against it.

Dr. Iris Shai, an associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology in the Faculty of Health and Sciences, said. "For the individual person, a ''normal value'' may still be associated with a significant elevated risk of disease when the BMI and sex of the patient is also considered."

The result of the research is published in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association. (With Inputs from Agencies)