Teenager’s Hearts Are in Danger — Lancet Finds High Blood Pressure Rates Are Rising

High blood pressure has long been considered a health issue for older adults. But according to a major new study, that assumption is changing. A global analysis, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, shows that rates of high blood pressure among children and teenagers have nearly doubled over the past 20 years.

Researchers analyzed data from 96 previous studies covering more than 443,000 young people across 21 countries. They discovered that in 2000, only about 3.2% of children and adolescents under 19 had hypertension. But by 2020, that number had climbed to more than 6.2%.

• Among boys, high blood pressure rose from roughly 3.40% in 2000 to 6.53% in 2020.
• Among girls, the increase was from about 3.02% to 5.82%.

But that’s not all. The study also looked at more subtle forms of blood pressure issues:

• About 8.2% of children and teens now fall into pre‑hypertension which means their blood pressure is higher than normal but not yet classified as full hypertension.
• More than 9% may have what’s called masked hypertension. This is dangerous because it doesn’t always show up during regular clinic check-ups, but can be detected through home or out-of-office blood pressure monitoring.

You may also like to read:

DGHS Raises Red Flag on Cough Syrup Usage in Young Children

Why Your Toddler’s Eyes Could Be at Risk, Says Top Eye Surgeon

Your Child Looks Healthy… But Their Spine Might Not Be. Here’s the Hidden Warning.

Why Is This Happening?

Obesity
One of the strongest drivers is obesity. Nearly 19% of children and teens with obesity have hypertension that’s about eight times higher than rates in their healthy-weight peers. Obesity can cause insulin resistance, changes in blood vessels, and other metabolic problems that make it harder for the body to regulate blood pressure.

Sedentary Lifestyles
Many young people today spend too much time sitting whether in front of screens, doing schoolwork, or just relaxing. Low physical activity contributes to weight gain and poor vascular health.

Unhealthy Diets
Diets high in salt, processed foods, saturated fats, and sugar are becoming more common. These dietary patterns can increase blood pressure over time.

Poor Sleep & Other Lifestyle Factors
Although not central in this particular Lancet review, other research links poor sleep, stress, and even genetic factors to hypertension risk in adolescents.

The Long-Term Risks

High blood pressure in adolescence is not harmless. But if left unrecognized and untreated, it can lead to serious health problems later in life, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.

Research supports this risk: A large study following young people into adulthood found that children diagnosed with hypertension had 2–3 times higher risk of serious cardiovascular events, like heart attack, stroke or heart failure.

Because of this, early detection is critical. The Lancet authors emphasize the need for better screening, more regular monitoring, and global standards for diagnosing high blood pressure in youth.

The Hidden Danger: Masked Hypertension

One of the most alarming parts of the study is the concept of masked hypertension. These are young people whose blood pressure appears normal in a clinic setting but is elevated when measured at home or in more natural settings.

This means many cases may be going undetected, especially if doctors rely only on in-office blood pressure readings. The study suggests that the true prevalence of hypertension in youth is likely even higher than what is reported in clinic-based measurements.

Prevention & Action

The good news? There are steps we can take right now to help reduce this growing health threat to teenagers:

• Regular Screening: Especially during teenage years, blood pressure should be checked more often.
• Promote Physical Activity: Encouraging daily exercise, outdoor play, and limiting sedentary time is crucial.
• Improve Diets: Reducing salt intake, limiting processed and high-sugar foods, and promoting diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help.
• Raise Awareness: Parents, teachers, and health workers need to understand that high blood pressure is not just an adult issue anymore.
• Policy & Health System Interventions: Schools and communities can play a major role in prevention. Governments and health authorities could support screening programs, improve access to ambulatory or home blood pressure tools, and run public health campaigns to address obesity.

The fact that hypertension is increasing in young people shows that lifestyle factors we once thought were only problems for older adults are now affecting the next generation. But it's not too late to act. With a few precautions, we can turn the tide.