Many people typically get serious about heart health in their mid-50s. But a growing body of research shows that starting years earlier is the most effective way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Keeping blood pressure and other risk factors in check over time is much better than playing catch-up as a person ages, according to a recent study. And because blood pressure tends to increase with age, it's particularly important to catch rising blood pressure early to stem the growing risks that come with it.

'Cardiovascular disease happens at the average age of 55, so people really don't think about it until they're already at increased risk,' said Norrina Allen, an epidemiologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. 'People with blood pressure at a lower range at one point in time need to be vigilant about keeping it low, and can't assume that they're at low risk for cardiovascular disease,' Dr. Allen said.

In a report published last week in the journal Circulation, Dr. Allen and her team analyzed more than 60,000 patient records using data collected in other research studies spanning 60 years. The researchers compared blood-pressure measurements for each patient taken on average at 41 years of age and again at 55. The team then tracked whether the patients suffered strokes, coronary heart disease or cardiovascular diseases over the next few decades of their lives.

The conclusion: Bringing high blood pressure under control at any time reduces risk of disease. But not letting it creep up in the first place can be even better. For example, men with high blood pressure