World Hypertension Day 2025: 4 Out Of 5 Mumbai Youth Diagnosed With High Blood Pressure Monthly Due To Stress, Smoking, Say Doctors

Mumbai: Monthly, four out of five youngsters are known to have high blood pressure because of stress or smoking, said Mumbai doctors on occasion of World Hypertension Day to be observed on Saturday.

Stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption are responsible for nearly 25% of high blood pressure, or hypertension, cases among Mumbai’s youngsters aged between 22 to 30 years, according to doctors. Medical practitioners believe that there is a steep rise in cases of hypertension among youth, which is becoming a growing matter of concern for experts.

Hypertension is a condition where the force of blood against the artery walls is consistently too high. While most patients do not experience noticeable symptoms until the condition has caused significant damage, its symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain, or fatigue.

Dr C. C. Nair, an internal medicine expert at Lilavati Hospital, said that stress, smoking and alcohol are linked to 25% of high blood pressure cases in youth. He added that four out of five youngsters are diagnosed every month with high blood pressure because of stress or smoking. He said that stress, career uncertainty, and personal challenges, combined with habits like smoking and regular alcohol use, are key contributors to the rise in high blood pressure among youth.

“Hypertension is not just a problem for older adults anymore. If left unmanaged, hypertension can silently damage organs over time and lead to heart disease, stroke, vision loss, and kidney failure even in youngsters. They should check their blood pressure every month, especially if there is a family history of hypertension or they engage in high-risk behaviors,” said Dr. Nair.

Dr. Chhaya Vaja, general physician at Apollo Spectra Mumbai, also agreed to it and said that stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption are increasingly contributing to high blood pressure in young adults, accounting for nearly 20% of all cases. She said that three out of five youngsters are known to have high blood pressure because of stress or smoking.

“What’s alarming is that many of these individuals don’t show any symptoms, making regular check-ups vital. It is imperative to know the numbers with the help of an expert. If one is having hypertension, then he/she should take medication as prescribed by the expert, eat a nutritious diet, stay stress-free by doing yoga and meditation, exercise daily, sleep well and regularly monitor the blood pressure,” said Dr. Vaja.

Doctors believe that timely management, regular check-ups, and lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and staying stress-free will help to avoid complications such as stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease in these youngsters.

Treatment for high blood pressure involves a combination of medication and lifestyle modifications. These include reducing salt intake, avoiding processed foods, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, exercising regularly, and managing stress through relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation.

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