Cardiovascular characteristics of the young with borderline hypertension

Borderline hypertension generally describes blood pressure levels at the margins of an established disease state. Prior to adulthood, this definition becomes less clear. Juveniles with blood pressure levels at the extremes of the normal distribution may be borderline hypertensive, hypertensive, or normal. Aberrant mechanisms that progress to essential hypertension have their onset in the young. Evidence is emerging that demonstrates variation in neurogenic function in young people. Other functional and structural variations have also been described prior to adulthood. These observations are beginning to characterize young people having borderline hypertension and also those with a greater risk for progressing to essential hypertension.