Views of hypertension among young African Americans who vary in their risk of developing hypertension.

Objectives: To describe beliefs about hypertension and health education of young African American adults varying in their hypertension risk status.

Design: Fifty-eight African American young adults (17-20 years) were selected based on low and high risk criteria for hypertension assessed in earlier investigations of hemodynamic responses to stress. The sample included 15 high risk males, 13 low risk males, 14 high risk females, and 16 low risk females who were interviewed indepth about their hypertension beliefs and health education experiences.

A 4-day sodium-controlled diet reduces variability of overnight sodium excretion in free-living normotensive adolescents.

The present analysis examined changes in the variability of overnight sodium excretion in 84 free-living adolescents (ages 15 to 19 years) on a 4-day sodium-controlled diet in which foods provided were selected by adolescents from an extensive list of menu items. The only selection criterion imposed was that foods selected for each day contain 4,000+/-200 mg sodium. Adolescents collected overnight urine samples.

Association of ambulatory blood pressure and dietary caffeine in adolescents.

Background: Although relatively little is known about the responsible factors, there is an increased prevalence of essential hypertension in youth. Our previous research using casual blood pressure (BP) suggests a role for caffeine intake. The objective of this study was to assess the association between caffeine intake and ambulatory BP patterns among adolescents and to replicate our previous findings that compared caffeine intake to BP values obtained at a single time point.

Relationship of body composition to stress-induced pressure natriuresis in youth.

Background: The contribution of stress to obesity-related cardiovascular disease is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of body composition on stress-induced pressure natriuresis.

Methods: Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was performed in 127 African American and white youths to assess lean body mass (LBM), fat mass (FM), and total percentage of body fat (%BF).

The association of caffeinated beverages with blood pressure in adolescents.

Objective: To assess the association between the consumption of caffeinated beverages and blood pressure in African American and white adolescents.

Design: This study was part of ongoing research examining stress-induced hemodynamic responses in adolescents. African American and white adolescents (n = 159) selected foods and beverages for a 3-day sodium-controlled diet.