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Tag: high blood pressure complications

Why Do I Have High Blood Pressure in My 20s? Understanding Early-Onset Hypertension and What It Means for Your Heart Health

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, has long been considered a condition predominantly affecting older adults. However, in recent years, an increasing number of young people in their twenties have found themselves facing a diagnosis that was once deemed uncommon for their age group. The question that echoes across clinics and online health forums is clear: why do I have high blood pressure in my 20s? The answer is complex, multifaceted, and rooted in a convergence of lifestyle habits, genetic predispositions, environmental factors, and often, silent warning signs that go unnoticed until the condition has progressed.

The Benefits of Lowering Blood Pressure: How Even Modest Reductions Can Protect Your Heart and Health

Blood pressure, the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of the arteries, plays a critical role in maintaining overall cardiovascular function. It is typically measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and recorded as two values: systolic (the pressure during heartbeats) over diastolic (the pressure between beats). A healthy reading usually falls around 120/80 mmHg. However, when these values remain elevated over time—defined as hypertension—they begin to pose serious risks to cardiovascular health. High blood pressure can silently damage arteries, strain the heart, and increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, and other chronic conditions. Because hypertension often develops gradually and without noticeable symptoms, many individuals remain unaware of the potential consequences until complications arise.