In the past few years, hypertension has become a serious public health concern in young adults (20-40 years). There is a perception that hypertension is a disease of the elderly, but 1 in 8 young adults may be living with high blood pressure.
This is dangerous because hypertension does not usually produce any symptoms so you may be living with it and be completely unaware until complications arise. This is why it is known as a ‘silent killer.’ Young adults with high blood pressure may have increased risks of developing heart disease, stroke and kidney failure later in life.
The only way to know whether or not you have high blood pressure is by checking your blood pressure.
What is a normal blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force applied to the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps throughout your body. When this pressure becomes too high, it can damage your heart and the walls of your arteries. Blood pressure may be categorized as:
Normal blood pressure: Less than 120/80 mmHg
Prehypertension: Between 120/80 and 139/89 mmHg
Hypertension: 140/90 mmHg or higher
If your blood pressure is within the normal range, you should check your blood pressure at least every 5 years. If it is slightly elevated, you may need to check it every year, and if you are diagnosed with hypertension, you should speak to your doctor about how frequently you should have your blood pressure checked.
Risk Factors for Hypertension
Different factors may contribute to an increased risk of hypertension in young adults, some of these factors include:
- Smoking: Smoking damages the walls of your arteries making them hardened and more narrow. Every time you smoke a cigarette, there is a slight elevation of your blood pressure. This effect combined over a prolonged period of time greatly increases your risk of hypertension. It is one of the most important modifiable risk factors of hypertension and cutting down or stopping completely will improve your overall health.
- Alcohol: The more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk of developing hypertension. Continued and regular consumption of alcohol increases your blood pressure, puts a strain on the heart and increases your risk of heart disease.
- Excessive salt: The recommended daily intake of salt intake is less than 6g of salt (equivalent to just under 1 teaspoon). Consuming higher than the recommended amount of salt increases your risk of hypertension.
- Weight and physical activity: Being overweight or obese is also a major contributor to your risk of hypertension. Losing weight and increasing your physical activity levels can improve your blood pressure and your overall health.
In conclusion, high blood pressure can affect people of any age. You may be apparently fit and healthy but high blood pressure often has no symptoms and so is more likely to go unchecked in young adults.
It is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke and identifying and treating it early is vital for preventing such complications. If you have not checked your blood pressure, consider stopping by your nearest pharmacy and checking it today.
