A heart health journey may start much earlier than once thought, as new research shows that kids with higher blood pressure at age 7 had a sharply increased risk of dying of heart disease by their mid-50s.

Blood pressure matters at all ages. Children with higher blood pressure at age 7 may be at an increased risk of dying of cardiovascular disease by their mid-50s, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025.

A new drug that significantly lowers "stubborn" blood pressure is on the horizon, following the results of its Phase III clinical trial. The treatment, called baxdrostat, has been hailed as the most promising advance in hypertension management in decades, demonstrating the ability to help patients whose blood pressure remains dangerously high despite standard therapy.