Silent health risks increasingly affecting India’s youth
Posted On May 15, 2026
Noida, May 15 : High blood pressure (hypertension), once considered a disease affecting people above the age of 50, is now rapidly increasing among young adults in India. According to doctors and national health data, changing lifestyles, rising stress levels, excessive screen time, processed food consumption, and lack of sleep have turned hypertension into a growing health epidemic among the youth.
According to the National Family Health Survey nearly 24 percent of men and 21.3 percent of women in India are affected by high blood pressure. The World Health Organization estimates that around 1.4 billion people globally are living with hypertension.
What is even more concerning is that a large number of people in India remain unaware that their blood pressure levels are higher than normal. Recent studies associated with the Indian Council of Medical Research suggest that the prevalence of hypertension in India has reached nearly 35.5 percent, indicating that one in every three Indians is affected by the condition.
Experts say the most noticeable rise is being observed among young professionals, where work-from-home culture, night shifts, 8–10 hours of screen time, lack of physical activity, fast food consumption, and mental stress linked to social media have emerged as major contributors to rising blood pressure levels.
According to Dr. Krishan Yadav, Senior Consultant Cardiology at Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Noida Extension, cases of hypertension among young people have steadily increased over the past 5–10 years. Nearly 30 percent of patients visiting the hospital’s cardiology OPD are found to have high blood pressure, with a significant number belonging to the 30–45 age group.
Dr. Yadav said, “Hypertension is called a ‘silent killer’ because symptoms are often absent in the early stages. Many patients discover they have high blood pressure only after serious complications such as heart attack, brain stroke, kidney failure, or heart failure occur.”
Another national study states that nearly 28 percent of adults above the age of 18 in India suffer from hypertension, but two out of every three patients remain unaware of their condition.
Speaking on the issue, Dr. Anil Kumar Kumaoni, COO Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Noida Extension, said that if young people fail to adopt healthier lifestyles in time, India could witness a sharp rise in cases of heart disease and stroke over the next decade.
Experts advise that after the age of 30, regular blood pressure screening, at least 30 minutes of daily exercise, 7–8 hours of sleep, controlled salt intake, stress management, and reduced screen time are among the most effective ways to protect young people from this growing silent killer.