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Blood Vessel Function May Point to Heart Problems

Endothelial function is the ability of the inner layer of blood vessels to widen when more blood flow is needed. Using ultrasound to assess blood vessels in a group of relatively young people, researchers at the University of Turku found that children who had risk factors for heart disease such as obesity and high cholesterol have impaired endothelial function in their 20s and 30s.

The finding appears in the Oct. 26 issue of Circulation.

The research promises to be one of the longest-running studies in medical history, said study author Dr. Olli T. Raitakari, an assistant professor of clinical physiology at the university.