Since high blood pressure doesn’t usually have symptoms, it’s easy to brush it off as not a big deal. But that would be a huge mistake. When left untreated, high blood pressure can significantly increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of 664,470 deaths in the U.S. in 2023, the most recent year for which data is available.
This is why it’s so important to know your risk, no matter how old (or young) you are. With this in mind, we talked to three cardiologists about what blood pressure risk looks like by decade and the best ways to keep it in check. Even if you're on the younger side, this is worth reading, because high blood pressure in younger adults is becoming increasingly common.
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While age is a significant risk factor for high blood pressure, if someone has high blood pressure in their 20s, this is not the cause. Instead, Dr. Bhojraj notes that the most common reasons for high blood pressure in your 20s are sleep deprivation, chronic stress, high energy drink consumption and a diet high in ultra-processed foods.
Related: The One Habit That Can Lower Your Blood Pressure Overnight, According to a Cardiologist
How can you lay the foundation for a heart-healthy lifestyle that will support you both now and decades down the road? Dr. Jay Chudow, MD, a cardiologist at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care, says this includes following a heart-healthy diet (which is one that’s high in whole grains and vegetables and low in salt, added sugars and highly processed foods), exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, consistently getting enough sleep and effectively knowing how to manage stress.
30s
Stress starts to really take a toll on people in their 30s, which in turn can increase blood pressure. “Stress is one of the most underrecognized drivers. Chronic stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, increasing heart rate, constricting blood vessels and elevating blood pressure. Over time, this leads to sustained hypertension and vascular damage if not addressed,” Dr. Davis says.
All three cardiologists also say that pregnancy can greatly impact blood pressure, something all women of childbearing age should be aware of. “Pregnancy is genuinely one of the most powerful cardiovascular stress tests a woman will ever undergo,” Dr. Bhojraj says. If someone has high blood pressure during pregnancy, this is a predictor that they are at higher risk for experiencing high blood pressure in the future.
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Dr. Chudow adds to this, saying that approximately 57% of men and 53% of women in their 40s and 50s have high blood pressure.
This doesn’t mean that high blood pressure is inevitable after menopause. The cardiologists all say that it just means paying more attention to what you can control, which will in turn support your blood pressure: diet, exercise, sleep and stress management.
60s and Beyond
Considering that the risk for high blood pressure increases with age, being 60 or older means staying on top of your health, including knowing what your blood pressure numbers actually are. “High blood pressure rates continue to increase over the age of 60, with over 70% of both men and women carrying this diagnosis,” Dr. Chudow says.
“The body is remarkably adaptable. Even later in life, improving fitness, nutrition and metabolic health can significantly lower blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular risk. It’s never too late to make meaningful change,” Dr. Davis says.
He adds that when blood pressure is lowered, it’s not just the numbers that change. Lower blood pressure means more energy, better sleep and sharper thinking. You’ll not only be healthier, but you’ll feel healthier, too.
Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Blood Pressure When You Eat Yogurt
Sources:
Undiagnosed Hypertension. Million Hearts Hospitals.Mensah, G. A. (2016). Hypertension and Target Organ Damage: Don’t Believe Everything You Think! Ethnicity & Disease. 26(3):275-278.High Blood Pressure Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, MD, FACC, interventional cardiologist and functional medicine doctor.Dr. Christopher Davis, MD, FACC, chief cardiologist at Humann.Dr. Jay Chudow, MD, cardiologist at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care.Blood pressure patterns in early pregnancy tied to hypertension risk up to 14 years later. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Hence then, the article about what your blood pressure risk looks like by decade and how to keep yours in check was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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