Young adults at higher risk

Today, the younger generations, mostly students and working class are getting affected by stress. Those in their twenties and thirties surge well in their career, some of them peaking fast. But they are in the grip of stress for various reasons.

Success, fear of career, stress on improving and competition, timelines, all these are taking a toll on today’s youngsters. This is making them prone to hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure.

Adding to the stress are lifestyle changes, diet, undesirable and unhealthy habits and lack of fitness.
• It is a common sight to see youngsters indulge in smoking, drinking, night outs and sleeping late and irregular bouts of sleep, westernized food habits and lack of exercise. All these are enhancing and complicating hypertension.
• Hypertension does not have specific symptoms but the best and the safest way to identify is checkup because it is a silent disorder.
In this regard, it is suggested that periodical health checkups are the best ways to identify hypertension. I recommend health checkups for youngsters in their twenties and thirties.
• Also remember hypertension is not hereditary. It is a lifestyle disorder.
• Stress plays an important role. Therefore methods to reduce stress like meditation and yoga make good impact in prevention and in reducing High BP on the long run.
• Young generations are ready at twenties and thirties for their bright career but, at the same time they should be ready or aware of health issues more so with Blood Pressure issues. Prevention and early detection is the key.(The writer is Sr Consultant Physician & Diabetologist at KIMS Hospitals in Hyderabad.)

By Dr Shiva Raju