High blood pressure at young age is a relatively new problem. Hypertension has long been seen as a health issue for older adults. Now, it is increasingly common in Generation Z, the group of people in their teens and twenties. Recent data show that roughly 23% of young U.S. adults (ages 18–39) have hypertension. Even children and teenagers are affected. Nearly 14% of Americans aged 8 to 19 have blood pressure readings that are above the normal range.
Trend: More Young Hypertensives
Today’s young generation is experiencing hypertension more than past generations did. Studies have found that the prevalence of high blood pressure in young adults has been growing. One analysis by a large health insurer noted that between 2014 and 2017, the rate of high blood pressure among people aged 21 to 36 rose by 16%, and that millennials (born 1981–1996) had about 10% higher rates of hypertension compared to what Generation X had at the same age. In short, each younger generation appears to be experiencing high blood pressure earlier in life than the one before.
This trend is not limited to the U.S. Worldwide, about one in three adults has hypertension. The total number of people with high blood pressure globally doubled from 650 million in 1990 to 1.3 billion in 2019. Hypertension remains most common in older adults worldwide, but younger people are not immune. A recent global analysis estimated that around 4% of children and adolescents under 19 have high blood pressure. This percentage has increased since the 1990s. In some developing countries undergoing rapid lifestyle changes, more young adults show risk factors for high blood pressure as well.
Reasons for High Blood Pressure at Young Age
Stress
Modern life presents new challenges for Gen Z’s blood pressure. Stress is one major factor. Many young people today report high levels of stress, whether from academic pressure, financial worries, or social anxiety. When a person is stressed, the body releases a surge of stress hormones (such as adrenaline). These hormones cause the heart to beat faster and make blood vessels narrow temporarily. This raises blood pressure for a while. For example, during exams or work deadlines, a stressed individual’s blood pressure might spike due to this “fight or flight” response. Occasional stress-related spikes usually resolve once the stress passes. However, chronic stress may contribute to long-term high blood pressure indirectly. People under chronic stress might sleep poorly, exercise less, or resort to unhealthy habits (like drinking lots of caffeine or alcohol), all of which can keep blood pressure elevated. Researchers note that while stress alone may not always cause permanent hypertension, how we react to stress can definitely influence blood pressure and heart health.
Technology
Another hallmark of Gen Z’s lifestyle is constant technology use, which can affect blood pressure in several ways. Spending many hours on screens – whether scrolling through social media, playing video games, or binging shows – often means sitting still for long periods. This sedentary behavior is linked to higher blood pressure in young people. In fact, even in children, studies have found that a lot of TV or computer time correlates with elevated blood pressure, regardless of weight. In adolescents and young adults, high screen time often goes hand-in-hand with physical inactivity and shorter sleep duration, both of which are risk factors for hypertension. A recent study in 2023 of college students in India found that those who spent more than about 6.5 hours per day on screens had significantly higher odds of having elevated blood pressure compared to those with less screen time. Excessive screen time, especially at night, can also disrupt sleep patterns. Not getting enough quality sleep can provoke hormonal changes that raise blood pressure and make it harder for the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels) to recover from daily stresses. In summary, the digital habits of Gen Z – while bringing many conveniences – may inadvertently be contributing to higher blood pressure through reduced physical activity, poor sleep, and increased stress.
Diet and Lifestyle Factors
Changes in diet and lifestyle over recent decades play a major role in the rising blood pressure among young people. One key factor is diet – specifically, the high-salt and processed-food diets common today. Sodium (salt) has a well-known effect on blood pressure. When people eat a lot of salt, the body responds by holding onto extra water in an effort to keep the salt concentration balanced. This increases the volume of fluid in the bloodstream. The result is higher pressure on the blood vessel walls, forcing the heart to work harder. Many Gen Z individuals consume salty snacks, fast foods, and processed meals that are loaded with sodium. According to a Harvard Heart Letter, the average American consumes about 50% more sodium than recommended, and this excess sodium directly contributes to high blood pressure in a significant portion of people. For those who are salt-sensitive (which includes a large subset of people with hypertension), a salty meal can cause a noticeable rise in blood pressure within hours. Over time, a habitual high-salt diet can lead to persistent hypertension. In addition to salt, diets high in sugary beverages and refined carbohydrates may indirectly raise blood pressure by promoting weight gain and poor metabolic health.
Overweight and obesity are closely tied to high blood pressure, and unfortunately these conditions have become much more common in younger generations. Excess body weight puts extra strain on the entire circulatory system. Simply put, a larger body needs the heart to pump more blood, and fat tissue can also release substances that raise blood pressure. Being overweight causes physical changes in the blood vessels and kidneys that often lead to higher blood pressure. The rise in obesity among children and young adults in recent years has been dramatic. For example, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that among 18- to 25-year-olds in the U.S., the prevalence of obesity jumped from about 6% in the late 1970s to nearly 33% by 2018. In other words, one-third of today’s young adults are obese, compared to only one in twenty in that age group about forty years ago. This surge in obesity is a major reason why more Gen Z individuals are experiencing hypertension. Carrying extra weight (especially weight around the waist) contributes to higher blood pressure by multiple mechanisms – including increased insulin resistance, activation of the sympathetic nervous system (the “fight or flight” responses), and kidney stress that alters sodium balance. Moreover, young people who are less active physically are more likely to gain unhealthy weight. Many Gen Z teens and young adults do not meet recommended levels of exercise, often because they spend a lot of time online or sitting for work and studies. The combination of sedentary lifestyles and high-calorie diets creates a perfect storm for developing hypertension early. Public health data show that high blood pressure is often found alongside other lifestyle-related conditions like poor lipid levels and Type 2 diabetes in younger adults, indicating an overall pattern of declining cardiovascular health in this generation.
Multiple factors often overlap. There is not one root cause. A young person with hypertension might have a genetic predisposition, but their risk is made worse by a stressful college life, too many late-night meals, and not enough exercise. Lifestyle in the Gen Z era – characterized by fast-paced routines, heavy digital engagement, and readily available processed foods – has created an environment where high blood pressure is becoming more prevalent at an earlier age.
Sources
TampaCardio: Hypertension in Millennials and Gen Z, Yes, It’s a Thing
The Nature: Investigation and management of young-onset hypertension
