More Young Adults Treating Hypertension with Medication

By Matthew Lucks, MD, Scripps Health


Why are so many more young people increasingly being treated for hypertension with medication? One reason may be that the medical community’s definition of hypertension has changed in the past few years; the thresholds for high blood pressure are lower than they used to be. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers. The first number (systolic) indicates the pressure on the walls of your blood vessels when your heart beats; the second (diastolic) indicates the pressure between beats. Blood pressure is considered high if your systolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg, or your diastolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg (written as 140/90). Normal blood pressure is below 120/80; anything between the two numbers is considered borderline high. Because more younger people now meet these new criteria, more are being diagnosed with hypertension and treated for it with medication.

Blood pressure awareness

According to the CDC report, high blood pressure awareness increased among adults between 40-59 and 60 and over, but not among people 18-39. Since fewer adults in this age group are aware that they have high blood pressure, fewer make lifestyle or dietary changes that could have a significant effect on bringing blood pressure numbers back down to normal. Moreover, decreasing amounts of physical activity and increasing levels of obesity and diabetes, especially among teenagers, sets the stage for people to develop hypertension at an early age. Consequently, by age 18, the disease has already progressed to the point that medical therapy is needed.


Tips to help young people avoid developing high blood pressure


Eat smart. Build meals around low-fat protein sources such as fish, poultry, lean meats, and beans. Trim excess fat, and bake or broil instead of frying. Fill out meals with whole grains and fresh, whole foods such as vegetables and fruits. Minimize the use of prepackaged, processed and “fast” foods that can be sky-high in salt, sugar, saturated fats, trans fats and tropical oils.

Find healthy recipes.




Matthew Lucks, MD, is a cardiologist with Scripps Health. “To Your Health” is brought to you by the physicians and staff of Scripps Health. For more information, please call 1-800-SCRIPPS or visit

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