High blood pressure, long viewed as a health concern for middle age, is now alarmingly prevalent across the UK and is increasingly affecting younger generations. New data reveals that a third of UK adults are living with hypertension, a figure that rises to nearly half of the adult population in the United States. More worryingly, medical professionals are reporting a significant surge in cases among children and adolescents, with strokes now occurring more frequently in people of working age.
Understanding and Diagnosing the Silent Killer
Hypertension, the medical term for high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood against artery walls is consistently too high. It is often dubbed a silent killer because it can cause extensive damage to the body over many years without presenting obvious symptoms.
Diagnosis typically involves using a monitor with an inflatable arm cuff, which provides a reading of two numbers measured in mm Hg. The higher systolic pressure records the force when the heart beats, while the lower diastolic pressure measures the force when the heart rests between beats.
In the UK, a reading between 90/60 and 119/79 is considered healthy for adults. The threshold for high blood pressure begins at 140/90. For children, diagnosis is more complex, as there is no single threshold. Doctors define hypertension in the young when readings fall within the top 5% for a child of the same age, height, and sex.
Who is Most at Risk of Hypertension?
Age is a primary factor, as arteries naturally stiffen over time. Genetics and family history also play a crucial role. Furthermore, individuals from Black African, Black Caribbean, or South Asian ethnic backgrounds face a higher inherent risk.
Lifestyle choices are major contributors. Key risk factors include:
- An unhealthy diet, particularly one high in salt.
- Being overweight or obese.
- Physical inactivity and a lack of exercise.
- Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
- Prolonged periods of stress.
For very young children, high blood pressure is usually secondary hypertension, caused by underlying conditions like heart or kidney disease. However, since the 1990s, rates in children have increased more than fourfold to around 6%, driven largely by poor diet, inactivity, and obesity.
The Severe Consequences of Uncontrolled Pressure
The harm caused by hypertension is systemic and severe. The constant excess pressure strains the heart, potentially leading to heart failure, and damages artery linings, causing inflammation and plaques. This can result in angina, heart attacks, and irregular heart rhythms.
The kidneys are especially vulnerable, with damaged blood vessels potentially leading to organ failure and the need for dialysis. The tiny blood vessels in the eyes are also at risk, which can cause bleeding, blurred vision, and blindness.
In the brain, narrowed arteries can cause vascular dementia and mini-strokes, while clots or bleeds may trigger major, debilitating strokes. This organ damage is equally dangerous for children, making early diagnosis and treatment essential.
Managing blood pressure involves both medication and significant lifestyle changes. A healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, and engaging in at least an hour of moderate to vigorous exercise daily are crucial. It is also vital to limit salt, avoid sugary drinks, minimise alcohol, not smoke, and reduce sedentary time to under two hours per day.
