High blood pressure at 25? Why young Indians are increasingly at risk of stroke

At 25, most of us feel unbreakable. We work late, skip meals, doomscroll late at night, and assume health problems belong to our parents' generation. High blood pressure rarely announces itself. There is no pain or fever, so it is easy to ignore, and that is exactly what makes it dangerous.

India's data suggests that we should pay attention. The ICMR National Stroke Registry Programme, run through the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research in Bengaluru, found that about 13.8 per cent of stroke patients, nearly one in seven, are under 45. These are not only elderly people. Many are in the prime of their careers, with families and plans.

The registry's hospital-based analysis, which reviewed over 34,000 cases between 2020 and 2022 and was published in the International Journal of Stroke, points to the same culprit. Hypertension was the dominant risk factor, affecting nearly 75 per cent of patients, followed by diabetes, tobacco and alcohol. The population-based registries tell a similar story.

So why does it hit young people? Often because it goes unnoticed. Younger patients are often undiagnosed and undertreated until a stroke forces the issue. Add salty processed food, long sitting hours, stress, poor sleep, smoking, and a family history people rarely talk about, and the pressure on the arteries builds quietly for years.

The consequences are heavy. More than half of stroke patients are dead or significantly disabled by three months. For someone in their late twenties or thirties, that could mean decades of dependence.

The consequences are devastating, particularly in young patients. In the majority of cases, stroke frequently causes serious life-altering disabilities or proves fatal within just a few short months. When an individual is affected in their late twenties or thirties, it affects their most vibrant and productive years, potentially resulting in decades of dependence and interrupted careers. The encouraging part is that this is largely preventable.

By adopting a few key lifestyle habits, you can significantly reduce your risk.

• Get your blood pressure checked: Once a year is a sensible habit, and more often if hypertension runs in your family
• Cut back on salt and packaged snacks
• Move daily. Even a brisk 30-minute walk helps
• Avoid tobacco and keep alcohol low
• Sleep properly and find a way to manage stress
• If you're prescribed medicine, take it even when you feel fine

Know the warning signs of a stroke too: a drooping face, weakness in one arm, slurred speech, sudden vision trouble or a severe headache. If you see them, get to a hospital immediately, because every minute matters.

(The author is a neurology consultant, Manipal Hospital, Yeshwanthpur)

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.