Young black men of America, it’s time to get serious about your health. According to a study by researchers at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign black men are developing high blood pressure earlier in life. What’s worse is that there are few outward signs of the condition.

The study involved 25 black men and 30 white men; the average age was 23. Both groups had similar results on a variety of measures. The black men, however, had significantly higher central blood pressure.

Black males also showed early signs of vascular damage that can lead to hypertension, including stiffer arteries throughout the body and thicker carotid (neck) arteries, a health disparity usually found in older people.
 
While researchers didn’t examine why these symptoms occur in young fit black men, they found that environmental factors such as diet may play a role.

Find ways to lower blood pressure here.