High blood pressure in young adults

In the USA, nearly 1 in 4 adults aged 20 to 44 have raised or high blood pressure — and usually they look and feel healthy. Most people who have high blood pressure don’t know they have it because it rarely has noticeable symptoms, and they don’t think they need to get their blood pressure checked.

However, the statistics show that it is extremely important for younger adults to get their blood pressure regularly checked and get high blood pressure under control because of the long-term damage high blood pressure can have on their health. If untreated, high blood pressure, or hypertension, increases the risk of developing serious problems such as stroke and heart attack.

Blood pressure is measured with two numbers. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body. The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels.

A healthy blood pressure is less than 120/80mmHg.

What effect does high blood pressure have on your health?

Untreated, high blood pressure increases your risk of developing serious and potentially life-threatening health issues in later life such as:

Heart disease
Stroke
Heart attack
Heart failure
Peripheral artery disease
Kidney disease
Eye conditions
Vascular dementia

If your blood pressure is high, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these serious conditions.

Common Reasons for High Blood Pressure in Young Adults

High blood pressure in a young adult may be the result of several factors. It may be due to an underlying health condition like kidney disease, sleep apnea, or a hormonal imbalance. Or it could be as a result of lifestyle, for example, consuming too much salt or supplements, or being inactive and overweight.

Another factor in high blood pressure is stress. Too much stress over can cause enormous damage to the body. Hormones produced by the body when under stress narrow the blood vessels, increase blood pressure and make the heart work harder.

Important note:

Talk to your doctor about your risk for high blood pressure and ask your health care team what your blood pressure numbers mean and if they are too high. If you have diagnosed high blood pressure, stick to your treatment plan and follow your doctor’s advice.

Oftentimes, simple lifestyle changes can help reduce your blood pressure.

If you smoke, you need to stop.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Aim for a diet low in saturated and trans fats and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Consume low levels of salt. Keep your salt intake under 1,500 mg/day.
Limit alcohol. Keep your alcohol intake to one drink per day if you are a woman, or two drinks per day if you are a man.
Practice relaxation techniques.
Be physically active for at least 150-300 minutes a week and two or more muscle strengthening activities of moderate or greater intensity and that involve all major muscle.
Sometimes, simple changes can be made without needing medication, such as avoiding workout supplements which can inadvertently raise blood pressure.

References

DAR-0203 RevA