Ignorance, changing lifestyle and irregular food patterns are the key cause for increase in youngsters with Hypertension

On World Hypertension Day, an online survey was conducted among 500 people with the aim to understand their awareness levels about hypertension. From among those surveyed, 39% are suffering from Hypertension. An alarming 56% of total participants are unaware of the normal range of blood pressure. Most of them are youngsters within 20 to 30 years of age.

In the survey conducted among 500 people, there are 370 Male and 130 female. Among these, there are 265 between 20 to 30 years, 212 between 30 to 50 years and 23 above 50. The survey highlights 194 having Blood Pressure, among these 24 are between 20 to 30 age group and 150 among 30 to 50 age group. There are hardly 23 from among these who go for BP check-ups every month.

Dr Pradeep Gadge, Diabetologist, Gadge Diabetes Centre, said, “Ideally, everyone should go for a BP check-up every 3 months and those severely suffering from Hypertension must conduct a check-up once in a week. But, the negligence among youngsters and the changing lifestyle that they have accustomed to have led to a rise of youngsters with Hypertension. A steady rise in the consumption of fast food or high consumption of salt is one of the major causes.  All types of packaged food contain sodium which invariably leads to an increase in the sodium intake. This along with the changing lifestyle patterns has led to youngsters facing cardiac issues that rise from Hypertension.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) rates Hypertension as one of the most important causes of premature death worldwide. As per analysis of 2005, worldwide data for the global burden of Hypertension saw 20.6% of Indian men and 20.9% of Indian women with hypertension. According to the WHO 2008 estimates, the prevalence of raised BP in Indians was 32.5% (33.2% in men and 31.7% in women).

“Youngsters tend to ignore their health and focus on a career oriented lifestyle. Unlike earlier, a notable increase among youngsters with hypertension has been noticed. With high pressure jobs in the banking, IT and media industry, youngsters have developed an irregular sleeping pattern, untimely consumption of food and increase in junk and packaged food items, lack of exercise and sleep are leading to a very stressful lifestyle. This modernisation has led to youngsters neglecting their health and developing cardiac complications at a young age. In the last 15 years, approximately 10 to 15% rise among those with hypertension in the 25 to 40 age group have been noticed,” said Dr Amol Pawar, internal medicine and Cardio diabetes expert,  Zen Hospital.