New research suggests that high blood pressure is on the rise for millennials. While hypertension (blood pressure over 140/90) is most often diagnosed in middle-aged individuals, a recent study by the University of North Carolina has found that one in five adults aged 24 to 32 years old has hypertension. What’s more, even having moderately high blood pressure can increase your risk of having a heart dysfunction later in life.
1 in 5 adults aged 24 to 32 has hypertension.
A study by the American College of Cardiology followed 2,500 adults aged 18 to 30 year olds and, over a 25 year period, tracked the participants blood pressure and heart health. Young adults with even moderately high blood pressure had an increased risk of developing heart disease later in life and were more likely to develop symptoms of heart disease 25 years later. One of the key culprits linked to millennials rising blood pressure is stress.
According to the Stress in America Survey, conducted by the American Psychological Associations, millennials are the most stressed generation with work, finances, and job stability being the leading causes of stress. While stress in itself contributes to high blood pressure, stress has also been linked to unhealthy coping behaviours — such as drinking, smoking, and internet surfing — that further raise blood pressure.
Reducing your stress can make a big difference in keeping your blood pressure in check. It is never too early for adults to start monitoring blood pressure. With Health Gauge you can visualize how different lifestyle habits impact your blood pressure and overall health. Health Gauge provides individualized insight on how your exercise, diet, sleep and stress affect your well-being.