Screen Addiction, Sleepless Nights Driving BP Surge In Youth

Hyderabad:Ahead of World Hypertension Day on May 17, doctors have warned of a worrying rise in high blood pressure (BP) among teenagers and young adults in India, driven by poor sleep, excessive screen time, stress, junk food consumption and sedentary lifestyles. Specialists said hypertension, once considered a condition affecting older adults, is now increasingly being diagnosed among people in their 20s, 30s and even adolescents.

According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), around 22.6 per cent of Indians are estimated to have hypertension, while the ICMR-INDIAB study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology placed the prevalence among adults at 35.5 per cent, translating to nearly 315 million people. Globally, over 1.4 billion people are affected, with many remaining undiagnosed due to lack of regular screening.

“Hypertension is no longer a condition seen only in older adults. We are now seeing it much more frequently in teenagers, college students and young professionals because of unhealthy routines, emotional stress and poor lifestyle habits,” said Dr Praveen Gupta, neurologist and chairman of a neuro and spine institute.

Doctors said excessive screen exposure and poor sleep patterns are emerging as major triggers. “Teenagers today spend several hours on mobile phones, gaming consoles and social media platforms. Continuous screen time disrupts sleep quality and increases stress hormone levels, which can gradually elevate blood pressure,” Dr Gupta noted.

Dr A. Ravikanth, senior consultant cardiologist, said hypertension has become one of the fastest-growing lifestyle disorders among urban youth. “Chronic stress, smoking, alcohol use and lack of physical activity are pushing BP levels higher even before the age of 30,” he explained.

Health experts noted that many young adults ignore early warning signs because symptoms often appear mild or are mistaken for stress and exhaustion. “Recurring morning headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, unusual fatigue, poor concentration, irritability and sleep disturbances are often dismissed,” Dr Gupta said. Some patients may also experience imbalance while walking, heaviness in the head, numbness in the limbs or temporary vision problems, indicating stress on the brain’s blood vessels.

Doctors cautioned that hypertension often progresses silently. “Many patients with dangerously high BP feel completely normal. Relying only on symptoms is unsafe. Regular monitoring is the only reliable way to detect hypertension early,” said Dr Varsha Kiron, cardiologist.

Dr Lalukota Krishna Mohan, senior interventional cardiologist, said, “Most patients do not experience obvious warning signs until complications develop. By then, hypertension may have already affected major organs,” he said.

Dr Praveen Koppula, internal medicine specialist, explained that persistent high BP gradually damages arteries and forces organs to work harder over time. “Hypertension is not just a number on a BP machine. It creates continuous mechanical stress on the heart, kidneys, brain and blood vessels,” he said.

Consultant cardiologist Dr G. Shiva Prasad warned that neglecting hypertension could result in serious cardiac complications at a young age. Stress and anxiety are increasingly affecting the health of youth, he said, adding that early detection, lifestyle changes and awareness are crucial to controlling the condition.

Consultant cardiologist Dr Shashidhar Madaka advised regular exercise, reduced salt intake, adequate sleep and stress management to prevent high BP and related complications.

A white paper released by The George Institute for Global Health India recommended potassium-enriched low-sodium salt substitutes as an effective strategy to reduce hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Dr Vivekanand Jha, executive director of the institute, noted that Indians consume nearly double the WHO’s recommended daily salt intake. “Reducing sodium consumption at the household level can significantly lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke and cardiovascular mortality,” he said.

The report stated that nearly 80 per cent of sodium intake in India comes from salt added during cooking and at the dining table.

Doctors advised regular blood pressure monitoring, reduced salt intake, exercise, adequate sleep, stress management, weight control and avoiding smoking and alcohol to lower long-term risks. Neurologist Dr Anudeep Davuluri warned that uncontrolled hypertension remains one of the leading causes of stroke, brain haemorrhage, memory decline and paralysis, while cardiologists stressed that awareness and early detection are crucial to prevent serious complications at a young age.

How Telangana fights BP

Around 28 lakh people in Telangana have been diagnosed with hypertension and initiated treatment since 2018.

Data comes from National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD).

According to the ICMR-INDIAB study, the prevalence of hypertension in Telangana stands at nearly 31%.

Since the condition often remains asymptomatic, government has intensified screening efforts for individuals aged 30 years and above.

1.9 crore individuals, 90% of target population, screened for hypertension in Telangana since 2018

Free medicines for hypertension are being supplied every month through government health facilities.

Telangana has implemented population-based screening through frontline health workers, opportunistic screening at public health facilities.

Simplified, evidence-based and state-specific treatment protocols developed for hypertension management. This involves standardised drug and dose-specific regimens.

Telangana, in a first, has decentralised hypertension follow-up services up to the sub-centre level, allowing patients with controlled blood pressure to receive medicine refills and follow-up care closer to their homes.

State maintains digital patient tracking system through the NP-NCD portal.