Hypertension emerging rapidly among youth due to lifestyle changes: Jadhav

Calling hypertension a “silent killer”, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, has said the condition often progresses without visible symptoms and can lead to severe complications such as heart attacks and strokes.

He highlighted that the Government of India, under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPCDCS), is actively promoting population-based screening, early detection and management through Health and Wellness Centres across the country.

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In a special video message during the ‘Illness to Wellness Conference on Transforming Hypertension Care: Prevention to Wellness’ organised ahead of World Hypertension Day 2026, Jadhav said, “In today’s time, it is essential that we make our communities more sensitive and aware, and strengthen awareness about hypertension. Due to changing lifestyles and reduced attention to physical and mental health, hypertension is rapidly increasing even among the youth.”

The conference was organised by the Illness to Wellness Foundation and brought together leading policymakers, cardiologists, healthcare experts and public health leaders to deliberate on the growing burden of hypertension and the need to move from illness-centric treatment towards wellness-driven healthcare approaches.

Addressing the gathering, Rajesh Bhushan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Chairperson, Governing Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation, said, “The problem of hypertension is as prevalent in rural India as it is in urban India, but because we live in metro cities, we often believe it is only an urban problem. Early detection is extremely important because without early detection, early treatment becomes difficult. At the same time, non-communicable diseases impact GDP significantly across countries, and therefore prevention and timely intervention are critical.”

In his welcome address, Anil Rajput, Chairperson, Advisory Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation, said, “Modern lifestyles marked by long working hours, constant connectivity, poor sleep, sedentary habits and rising stress are significantly contributing to the growing burden of hypertension and lifestyle disorders.”