You might think high blood pressure (also called hypertension) is something that only happens to older people. But these days, more and more young people are being diagnosed with it—and it’s not something to ignore.

Speaking to Drug Today Medical Times on occasion of World Hypertension Day, Dr. Amitabh Punia, a heart specialist at Kailash Deepak Hospital in Delhi, says that young people should take high blood pressure very seriously. “We’re seeing more young men and women come to us with high BP,” he says. “It’s no longer just an old-age problem.”

It Comes and Goes—But That’s Not a Good Sign

Sometimes, young people feel their blood pressure goes up for a few days and then comes down on its own. “Because of this, they think everything is fine and stop taking medicines. But that’s risky,” Dr. Punia warns. “Just because it goes down doesn’t mean the problem is gone.”

He explains that high blood pressure in young people often has hidden causes—like a problem in the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys. This condition can quietly raise blood pressure without showing clear signs. Special tests like a kidney Doppler or scans of the main blood vessel (aorta) can help doctors find the real reason.

What Can High Blood Pressure Do to Your Body?

If your blood pressure stays high for a long time, it can slowly damage your blood vessels and important organs like your heart, brain, and kidneys. “Usually, this damage happens over 5 to 10 years,” says Dr. Punia.

But sometimes, the damage happens suddenly. “If your BP jumps from 200 to 220 in a short time, you could have a brain bleed or a heart attack—even if you’ve never had problems before. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had high BP. It’s how fast and high it rises that’s dangerous.”

Why Is My Nose Bleeding?

You may think nosebleeds are nothing to worry about. But in adults, they can be a sign of high blood pressure. “In children, nosebleeds usually happen because of local irritation or nose-picking. But in adults, they can happen when blood pressure is very high and a blood vessel in the nose bursts,” says Dr. Punia.

So if you’re getting frequent nosebleeds, it might be a good idea to check your blood pressure.

How Does Stress Affect BP?

We all feel stressed. But stress doesn’t just affect your mood—it can also affect your heart.

“When you are stressed, your body releases hormones that make your blood vessels tighten. This makes your blood pressure go up,” says Dr. Punia. Over time, stress can also cause cholesterol to build up in your arteries, making things worse.

But I Feel Fine—Do I Still Need to Worry?

Yes. That’s the scary part about high blood pressure—it often has no symptoms at all. “Many people don’t know they have it until they get a stroke or heart attack,” says Dr. Punia. “That’s why we call it a ‘silent killer’.”

If you’re young and think you’re too fit or too busy to worry about high BP, think again. Get your blood pressure checked regularly—especially if it runs in your family, or if you often feel dizzy, get headaches, or notice a fast heartbeat.

Final Word from the Doctor

“Don’t ignore high blood pressure just because you’re young,” says Dr. Punia. “If we catch it early and find the cause, we can treat it and help you live a healthy life.”