People at risk of having high blood pressure in their late 30s can be identified as early as childhood, a new study suggests.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major cause of heart attack and stroke. However it rarely carries any signs or symptoms - this is why it is often referred to as a ‘silent killer'.

The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked by a health professional, such as a GP or pharmacist.

Researchers in New Zealand followed the progress of over 1,000 people born in 1972 or 1973. Blood pressure information was collected between the ages of seven and 38 years.

Around one-third of the participants were found to be at risk of developing high blood pressure by the age of 38. The researchers were able to identify a number of factors during childhood which increased this risk.

"These included being male, having a family history of high blood pressure, being first born and being born lower birthweight. This new information is useful for screening purposes to help clinicians identify young people who may develop high blood pressure later in adulthood," commented the study's lead author, Dr Reremoana Theodore, of the University of Otago.

The researchers also found that having a high body mass index (BMI) and smoking over time increased the risk.

The study noted that those who had high blood pressure by the age of 38 were also more likely to have other health issues such as high cholesterol.

"Encouraging lifestyle changes beginning early in life that include the maintenance of a healthy body weight, weight reduction and stopping smoking may help to lower blood pressure levels over time, particularly among those individuals on a trajectory to developing hypertension.

"Our findings can be used to inform early detection, targeted prevention and/or intervention to help reduce the burden associated with this silent killer," the researchers said.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Hypertension.