Between 2004 and 2024, the proportion of people aged 16 to 29 who report having high blood pressure has doubled – from 2.7 to 5.5 percent. A similar development is also seen in the 30-44 age group, where an increase from 5.1 to 9.6 percent is observed.
Mattias Brunström, a doctor and assistant lecturer at Umeå University, is concerned about the figures since high blood pressure is the most common cause of premature death in cardiovascular disease.
Society must facilitate
According to Brunström, much suggests that the development is linked to the population's weight gain, including children and young people.
I think you have to try to understand more on a structural level what social factors are behind children and young people becoming overweight and getting high blood pressure.
Brunström means that healthcare often lacks resources to care for young people or young adults with hypertension – and therefore, society must ensure that it is "easy to make the right choice" for the individual, which is about good living habits such as diet and exercise in daily life.
Measure at regular intervals
Brunström's hope is, however, that the statistics do not only reflect a large increase, but also that healthcare has become better at detecting high blood pressure among younger people.
But we still have a big problem with high blood pressure being underdiagnosed and undertreated at all ages, he says.
Hypertension also gives no symptoms – which makes it difficult to detect if you don't measure.
Should everyone have a blood pressure monitor at home?
I'm not saying that everyone needs to have their own monitor. There are quite a few monitors out there in society that circulate, and even young people need to do a measurement every now and then, with a few years in between, to see that their blood pressure hasn't gone up, says Brunström.
Blood pressure is the pressure that occurs in the arteries when blood is pumped out from the heart.
High blood pressure generally gives no symptoms. Only at very high blood pressure can it manifest as, for example, severe fatigue, nausea, and severe headaches.
Source: The Heart-Lung Foundation
Keep track of your weight.
Physical activity and regular exercise.
Reduced salt intake.
Less alcohol consumption if consumption is too high.
Management of negative stress.
Quit smoking and snuff.
Source: The Heart-Lung Foundation
