The statistics are alarming.
1 in 4 individuals over 18 years of age are suffering from high blood pressure. The New Indian Express report on hypertension being on the rise among the youth has caused this hypertension specialist to sit up to take special notice about this condition.
It has been noticed that men are more prone to hypertension than are women. Moreover, hypertension or high blood pressure is more common among those with diabetes and obesity. This condition develops over a period of time and is attributed to poor lifestyle choices, bad food habits, excessive smoking, and consumption of alcohol, stress and lack of exercise.
Symptoms of hypertension include:
If you notice any of these symptoms you need to get in touch with a hypertension specialist.
Hypertension among the youth is nothing new. Hence it can be seen that this is a condition that is silently on the rise in the Indian population. So, what are some of the measures one can take to combat hypertension? Find out below!
Furthermore, take a look at some other details pertaining to hypertension among the youth that can give one insight into the condition.
First, let’s look at the two different types of hypertension. They are known as essential or primary hypertension and secondary hypertension.
Essential hypertension does not have one distinct cause, it is multifactorial. It is not the side-effect of medication or certain diseases. There can be several causes and these are:
Other types of hypertension have one DISTINCT cause. When there is a distinct cause, it is known as secondary hypertension. Let’s take a look at more details regarding the same.
Secondary hypertension is caused by a disease i.e. a medical condition or as the side effects of certain medications. The diseases which are likely to cause secondary hypertension are:
A doctor will confirm primary or essential hypertension after ruling out all causes of secondary hypertension.
Other causes of hypertension include dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia and syndrome X. Even diabetes goes hand-in-hand with hypertension. Let’s see how.
When the amount of bad cholesterol exceeds the good cholesterol levels, the condition is termed as dyslipidemia. In this case, the bad cholesterol forms plaque on the arteries, forcing the heart to increase the pressure to ensure proper blood flow. Therefore, hypertension is a comorbidity of dyslipidemia.
The link between hyperuricemia and hypertension has long been noted although there is still a debate about it being a direct causality. Moreover, this hyperuricemia and hypertension link is stronger in children and in adolescents than in adults. Hyperuricemia occurs when there is an increase in the uric acid levels of the blood. Uric acid causes acute vasoconstriction and endothelial damage which in turn causes hypertension.
Metabolic syndrome X is a condition that affects males more than females and is characterized by insulin resistance, central obesity, dyslipidemia, essential hypertension, and glucose intolerance. There is a correlation between metabolic syndrome X and hypertension concerning which there is ongoing research.
There is a lot of commonality between diabetes and hypertension because of the similarities in etiology and disease mechanisms. Diabetes happens to damage the arteries which causes high blood pressure as the heart has to pump harder to overcome the functioning of the weakened arteries.
With that said, hypertension is linked to various conditions and is a growing concern among the youth. Moreover, it may also lead to life-threatening conditions. Therefore, get yourself checked immediately.
Consult with a hypertension specialist like Dr. Amitabha Saha today, especially if you are young. The poor lifestyle choices and lack of physical exercise can also lead to hypertension. Hence, making small changes in your lifestyle can help you live a healthier life.