PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF HYPERTENSION: LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES AND BURDEN ON NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEMS
Eliud Ngari Muriithi
ABSTRACT
Hypertension is a significant worldwide community health issue and a significant risk factor that is adjustable in the occurrence of a heart disease. Despite adulthood being the most popular age group in reference to this, growing evidence indicates an upsurge in cases of high blood pressure in teenagers. Long-term cardiovascular complications linked with early-onset hypertension are coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and early mortality. Using the evidence of a systematic review of anxiety and hypertension in adolescents in the United Kingdom, this paper will discuss the health impacts of hypertension in the long run and the burden it has to the health system of nations. There has also been evidence that the physiological processes that are associated with anxiety such as the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and high cortisol levels contributes to long-term high blood pressure. When not treated in the adolescent stage, hypertension elevates the lifetime healthcare and economic expenditure. Proper prevention early on, combined with the aspect of mental health screening, and lifestyle interventions are necessary to minimize the strain on the national healthcare services in the future.