Greater Noida, 17 May 2025 – Hypertension is quietly finding its way into our lives. Many call it a “silent killer” because early warning signs are often ignored, leading to serious problems later on. On World Hypertension Day, it is vital to recognise that high blood pressure has become a common health issue. Once seen mainly in people over 40, cases are now increasing rapidly among the young population also. In our daily OPD, about 20–25 percent of adult patients and roughly 15–20 percent of young patients present with hypertension. Young people at higher risk are usually overweight, have poor eating habits, taking lot of junk food, over-stressed, sedentary lifestyle, consume excessive protein for bodybuilding, or had kidney-related illnesses in childhood.
Changing lifestyles are a major reason for hypertension: fast-food culture, unbalanced diets, high stress, smoking or alcohol, lack of sleep, and rising obesity all heighten the risk. The good news is that prevention is possible if we improve our daily routines.
In India, nearly one in five people lives with high blood pressure. If not controlled in time, it can damage many organ in the body—causing stroke, harming the eye’s retina, triggering heart attacks, and impairing kidney function—eventually leading to serious cardiovascular disease.
Dr Dinesh Kumar, Director, Internal Medicine at Fortis Greater Noida, advises regular blood-pressure checks. Reduce salt, avoid spicy and fried foods, choose rock salt where possible, and stay away from junk and fatty food. Keep weight in check, maintain a regular sleep schedule, exercise daily, and follow a balanced routine.
People who already have hypertension should undergo essential tests such as kidney function, cholesterol profile, ECG, echocardiogram, and urine analysis. These investigations are not unnecessary expenses; they reveal the root cause of high blood pressure and show whether organs like the heart or kidneys are affected. Basic screening can prevent—or at least delay—serious complications.