In these girls, the elevated blood pressure was the primary clinical problem.
But they also have much higher rates of elevated blood pressure than blacks in Africa.
Studies also show that controlling elevated blood pressure and cholesterol can reduce the risk of vision loss.
Controlling elevated blood pressure can sharply reduce the risk of serious illness.
More than 90% of adults who survive into their 80s will develop elevated blood pressure, also called hypertension.
Thus, moderately elevated pressure is considered more serious in a person with diabetes or another heart disorder.
Most patients with seriously elevated pressure require two or more drugs to achieve a safer level, the committee reported.
This can be a useful initial emergency treatment of severely elevated pressure.
Lifetime risk of developing elevated blood pressure is 90%.
Such treatment "in patients with marginally elevated blood pressure is no panacea," he said.