Breastfeeding children have lower blood pressure in childhood, research reveals

 

Research has confirmed that breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of heart disease as adults. Children who drank their mother's milk, even in small amounts, had lower blood pressure at the age of three.

Children who were breastfed for any length of time had lower blood pressure than those who did not breastfeed at all. Researchers say that the heart and blood vessels can be healthy when adults with low blood pressure at an early age. The benefits of breastfeeding for health have been revealed in a new research. The research results have been published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Breastfeeding lowers blood pressure in childhood 

They have shown that risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, can begin in childhood. Research has also confirmed that breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of heart disease as adults. However, the duration and amount of breastfeeding is not clear.

Researchers say this is the first research to evaluate the association between childhood blood pressure and early breastfeeding. Researcher Megan Azad said, "The results are unexpected. We found, contrary to expectations, it does not matter how long you have been breastfeeding, whether it is two days, two weeks, two months or two years. Noticed an improvement in blood pressure."

Heart disease risk is also lower as you get older

According to the research, children who drank comparatively less milk from their mother had lower blood pressure at the age of three, no matter how long they were breastfed. Researchers used data from 2,400 children who were part of the research. The health of children and thousands of Canadian mothers born between 2009 and 2012 were tracked.

The researchers wanted to know how early life experiences shape health and development. 98 percent were breastfed to some extent. Only 2 percent of the children included in the research were not breastfed at all. Of the breastfed children, 78 percent were given exclusive breastfeeding for six months or more and 62 percent for at least three months.

Exclusive breastfeeding means breast milk only, excluding solids or other liquids from the time of birth. Researchers say doctors and health policy makers should understand the importance of educating mothers about breastfeeding.