Why High Blood Pressure Is No Longer Just An Adult Problem

Doctors are sounding the alarm: high blood pressure is creeping into younger lives and strokes are turning up in people of working age. Once thought of as a middle‑aged complaint, hypertension is now showing up in children and teens at worrying rates. Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the artery walls and is read with an arm cuff. You get two numbers in millimetres of mercury — the top (systolic) when the heart squeezes, and the bottom (diastolic) when it relaxes. In the UK, a normal adult reading sits roughly between 90/60 and 119/79. Readings from 120/80 to 139/89 are considered slightly raised, and 140/90 and above is classed as high. The US uses a lower cutoff for stage 1 hypertension, starting at 130/80. Children are trickier. Their blood pressure naturally shifts with age, height and sex, so doctors flag hypertension when a child’s readings land in the highest 5% for their peer group. Until recently, high blood pressure in youngsters was usually down to other conditions — congenital heart problems, kidney disease or hormonal issues. But since the 1990s rates among children and adolescents have more than quadrupled to around 6%, driven by poor diets, inactivity and rising childhood obesity. Hypertension doesn’t produce loud symptoms. That’s why it’s sometimes called a silent threat: it can quietly damage organs over years. The extra pressure can make weak sections of arteries bulge and burst, overwhelm the heart, and roughen artery linings so plaques form. That raises the risk of angina, irregular heartbeats and heart attacks. Kidneys suffer too — damaged vessels can leave them unable to filter waste properly, sometimes requiring dialysis or transplant. Even the tiny vessels in the eyes can bleed, causing blurred vision or blindness. Reduced or blocked blood flow to the brain contributes to strokes and vascular dementia. Some people face higher odds. Age and family history matter, and people of Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian backgrounds have greater risk. Lifestyle choices also play a big part: a high‑salt diet, excess weight, little exercise, smoking, too much alcohol and chronic stress all push blood pressure up. There are clear ways to push it down. Alongside medication when needed, build meals around fruit and vegetables, choose low‑fat dairy, cut back on salt and ditch sugary drinks. Keep a healthy weight, get at least an hour of moderate to vigorous activity a day, and limit screen time and sitting to under two hours where possible. Stop smoking and avoid heavy drinking. The message is simple: blood pressure is no longer something only grandparents worry about. Regular checks, especially for children with risk factors, could spare lives and prevent life‑changing damage. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.theguardian.com | Read original article