Hypertension: A Rising Issue Among Youngsters

Poor eating habits, obesity and sedentary practices have adversely affected the health of young population. Most of them are ignorant about the repercussions of leading such an unhealthy lifestyle. Hence, it is not surprising that medical conditions like skin allergies, childhood obesity etc. are on a rise among the youngsters. And, hypertension being one of the most common issues among them.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, happens when your blood pressure, which is defined as the force of the blood flowing via your blood vessels, remains frequently too high. Worse is that, it can lead to other dangerous problems of the heart, kidney etc.

Risk factors of hypertension among youngsters

In many cases, it is hard to identify the main cause behind raised blood pressure levels among the young population. This is called primary hypertension, which happens to occur on its own, without an underlying condition. However, there are certain risk factors that increase a child’s risk of suffering from hypertension, which include:

• Lack of physical activity

• Unhealthy eating

• Being overweight or obese

• Sleeping problems

• High intake of salt

• Family history of hypertension

• Premature birth

• Kidney disease or disorder

Signs and symptoms of hypertension among youngsters

In most of the cases, there are no early signs and symptoms of hypertension, but in case you observe the following signs, check with your doctor:

• Seizure

• Fatigue or lethargy

• Congestive heart failure

• Headache and blurred vision

• Dizziness

• Breathlessness

How to prevent hypertension

Lifestyle modification is the best way to prevent hypertension and associated complications. Below are the few ways that can help in better management of hypertension:

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Avoid sedentary lifestyle

• Reduce screen time i.e. less of time on TV, mobiles, tablets and ipads

• Start any kind of physical activity like walking, aerobics etc.

• Eat a healthy diet

• Avoid fried and junk food

Hypertension is a growing concern in early childhood and adolescents. A healthy lifestyle can help in preventing as well avoiding any complications related to hypertension.