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The lifestyle that the teenagers live affects their risk of higher blood pressure, reveals a latest study. For example, when girls use birth control pills or when boys drink alcohol, it increases their chances of high blood pressure, consequently increasing the chances of heart diseases and stroke.

The risk factor also lies with those whose salt intake is high and those with higher body mass index (BMI).

For the study, researchers studied the blood pressure, alcohol intake, smoking habits and some more factors in around 1,800 teens in Australia.

The research findings revealed that around 24 percent of the teens had pre-hypertension or hypertension, including 34 percent of those who were overweight and 38 percent of those who were obese, according to Health Day.

It was also found that on an average, boys had higher systolic blood pressure (top number in a reading) than girls, which was associated to salt intake and alcohol consumption and BMI.

Usage of birth control pills was found to be the significant cause of high blood pressure in girls.

It was found that girls who took birth control pills had 3.3 mmHg higher systolic BP than those who didn't. Also, girls who used birth control pills were also found to have higher BMI along with a higher blood pressure. However, alcohol consumption did not seem to have affected BP in girls.

The researchers warned that the major differences in blood pressures of the teenagers could have also have a significant impact in their lives during adulthood.

"Adolescents need to be aware that a lifestyle which predisposes to fatness, high salt intake and alcohol consumption may lead to adverse health consequences in adult life. The effects are additive and already associated with hypertension. Moreover, teenage girls taking oral contraceptives should be advised about regular blood pressure monitoring," study author Dr. Chi Le-Ha, of the Royal Perth Hospital, said in a journal news release.

The study was published July 10 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.