High blood pressure is silently hitting young South Africans hard, with many unaware they are at risk. Photo by Getty Images
MILLIONS of young South Africans are quietly becoming victims of one of the country’s deadliest health threats, and many do not even know they have it.
As the world marks World Hypertension Day on 17 May, healthcare experts are raising the alarm over the growing number of young people battling high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
World Hypertension Day was first launched in May 2005 and has since become a global annual awareness campaign focused on educating people about the dangers of high blood pressure.
The official global theme for World Hypertension Day 2026 is “Controlling Hypertension Together!”
Global healthcare company Viatris warned that hypertension is silently destroying lives across Mzansi and driving some of South Africa’s deadliest diseases.
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Known as the “silent killer”, hypertension usually shows no symptoms while slowly damaging the body over time. Many people only discover they have it after suffering life-threatening complications like strokes, heart disease or kidney failure.
Every year in Mzansi, hypertension is estimated to contribute to around 14 000 cases of ischaemic heart disease, more than 13 000 strokes and over 6 000 cases of chronic kidney disease.
Experts say one of the biggest dangers is that many people ignore the condition because they do not physically feel their blood pressure rising.
Some patients stop taking medication because they do not see immediate results, while others struggle to maintain healthy lifestyles. Many also wrongly believe their high blood pressure readings are only caused by stress or anxiety during clinic visits.
Head of Medical Affairs at Viatris South Africa, Verushka Hansrajh, warned that ignoring treatment can have deadly consequences.
“Taking your medication at the right dose, frequency and time is critical to preventing the progression from hypertension to life threatening disease,” she said.
Hansrajh encouraged South Africans to regularly check their blood pressure and understand their health risks before complications develop. The disease is spreading rapidly across the country.
Experts estimate that between 19% and 56% of South Africans may be living with hypertension. What is even more worrying is that younger people are increasingly becoming part of the statistics.
Recent research among South Africans aged between 24 and 40 found that around 24% are already living with hypertension. Women were found to be more affected, with 27.5% reporting hypertension compared to 20.4% of men.
Health experts blame urban lifestyles, obesity, unhealthy eating habits, alcohol abuse, smoking and lack of exercise for the growing crisis among younger adults.
Country Head of Viatris South Africa, Aman Khanna, said tackling hypertension is part of improving access to healthcare in communities.
“For Viatris, this represents a critical area of focus aligned to its broader commitment to expanding access to medicines and healthcare,” he said.
“As a company operating across both branded and generic medicines, Viatris is well positioned to support the management of chronic conditions such as hypertension through the provision of quality assured treatments, as well as through partnerships that strengthen healthcare delivery at a community level.”
Khanna said improving access to screening and long-term treatment remains critical, especially in underserved communities.
Through partnerships with nurse-led clinics, including work in Diepsloot alongside Rhiza Babuyile, the company supports blood pressure testing, patient education and ongoing treatment support.
Among adults without private medical aid, around 8.22 million people, equal to 30.8% of the population, are living with hypertension.
Many remain undiagnosed, untreated or unable to control the disease properly, especially in lower-income communities. Hypertension is estimated to cost Mzansi around R39.5 billion every year through healthcare costs and lost productivity, putting massive pressure on both families and the public healthcare system.
Healthcare experts are urging South Africans, especially young people, not to ignore the silent killer and to regularly get their blood pressure checked at clinics, pharmacies or healthcare providers before it is too late.