Why is hypertension getting younger?

Besides genetic factors, unhealthy lifestyle is also one of the causes of high blood pressure in many young people today.

The International Society of Hypertension defines hypertension as a condition in which the pressure of blood flow against the artery walls is increased. A patient is diagnosed with hypertension when the systolic blood pressure is greater than 130 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure is greater than 85 mmHg.

High blood pressure is considered a "silent killer" because it has no typical symptoms, but over time, a series of other health events from many organs such as the heart, blood vessels, brain, eyes, kidneys. can occur from this blood pressure disease.

Rejuvenation of hypertension

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Huy Thang, Vice President of the Vietnam Stroke Association, high blood pressure usually occurs in patients over 45 years old. However, recently, according to his observations , many patients as young as 30 years old have contracted this disease.

Nowadays, many people in their 30s have high blood pressure due to unhealthy lifestyles and constant stress. (Photo: Pexels).

At a conference on blood pressure disease held in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Phan Thi My Nhung, Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control, said that in the past, high blood pressure was often called "the disease of the elderly" because it only appeared in the elderly (usually over 55 years old).

However, in recent years, this disease has appeared more in young people due to unhealthy living habits.

According to Dr. Nhung, high blood pressure often occurs in people who have a habit of eating salty foods, a diet lacking in potassium, few vegetables, drink a lot of alcohol, smoke, have little exercise, and are often stressed.

"Currently, many young people often eat street foods containing a lot of fat, salt, sugar, spices., and are lazy to exercise, leading to being overweight, which indirectly causes high blood pressure ," Dr. Nhung analyzed.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, Vietnamese people currently eat about 8-9 grams of salt per day, nearly double the recommendation of the World Health Organization (5 grams of salt per day). This is a factor causing high blood pressure that many people often ignore.

In addition , modern life causes many young people to constantly experience stress, often using alcohol and stimulants. Busy life also makes them less active, which can easily cause overweight and obesity. The risk of hypertension is therefore also increased.

In addition, the disease can also appear in young people with a family history of hypertension or originate from idiopathic factors.

The only way to detect high blood pressure

According to the 2021 National Survey on Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors in Vietnam by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, an estimated 20.2 million Vietnamese adults have hypertension, accounting for 26.2% of the population. Of these, about 60% have not been detected and nearly 70% have not been treated.

According to specialist Dr. Phan Thi My Nhung, Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control, high blood pressure has no specific symptoms , so many people have had this disease for a long time but do not know until they go to the doctor or dangerous complications appear.

"The only way to detect the disease is to regularly measure blood pressure at home or at medical facilities ," Dr. Nhung shared.

People may suspect they have high blood pressure if they continuously record systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg. At this time, people should go to the nearest medical facility for in-depth examination and medication.

In addition, people should establish a healthy lifestyle, a scientific diet, increase physical exercise, no stimulants, and limit alcohol. More importantly, people need to be aware of the importance of regular health check-ups to detect high blood pressure early.