A worrying trend is emerging right here in Gauteng, where more than 25,000 young adults have been diagnosed with high blood pressure; a condition that was once considered an “older person’s disease”. This rise is being linked to increasingly unhealthy lifestyle habits, raising serious concerns about long-term health risks among the youth. Often referred to as the “silent killer,” high blood pressure can lead to life-threatening complications if left unmanaged, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. To help us better understand what’s driving this trend, the risks involved, and what can be done to prevent and manage the condition, we’re joined today by Dr Pfunzo Machimana, Specialist family physician