Why would a young adult have high blood pressure?

[MysteryofNils]

Dd worked abroad for a year and came back last year and mentioned that she had to have a medical in her job and found she was anaemic (not surprising as she has heavy periods) but also that her blood pressure had measured high.

She does have a history of recurrent UTIs and saw a kidney specialist this year. I asked if they measured her BP and she said no.

Is there a logical reason for this? Of course being her mother I would rather she got the GP or pharmacist to check it was normal but she is likely to get quite anxious about it so I don't want to mention it if it could be nothing.

I was diagnosed with HBP when I was 30. They did cardiology referral but there was no reason. It can be idiopathic but they should investigate

If it’s a one-off reading then it could be high simply because she was stressed - white coat syndrome is definitely a thing. Is she worried about it?

Well she's now convinced herself that if she knows she has to have a BP check that it will mean it will be high as she will get nervous about it. So I said to her, we have a BP machine at home (her dad had to use it at one stage) so just do it at home so you don't worry - so she did and I can't recall the measurement she said but it was still high

She's told me she's not feeling great at the moment so wants to come home for a week (she lives in a house share at the moment) so she's coming back tonight

I don't want to stress her out about so I'll see why she's feeling ill first!

When my mum was 17 she had a blood pressure check due to going on the contraceptive pill, it was high and when checked further it was remaining high. She also suffered with recurring UTI. It turned out to be hydronephrosis and she needed a kidney removed. I would go to the Dr and tell them your concerns and see if it could all be linked.

When she takes her blood pressure at home tell her to take it 3 times. Between each sit quietly and do some relaxing breathing techniques. She will notice a difference between first and third readings. Doctors should not rely on a one off blood pressure reading. White coat syndrome is very common

It could be kidney disease or other coronary artery disease being young does not always mean you don’t have genetic issues that cause long term problems.
If it’s been identified it should be looked into.
30 yr olds have strokes and heart attacks.

She needs to relax for 5 mins then record the lowest of 3 readings. Do this the same time daily for a week and find the average

It can be genetic.

Also never underestimate the impact of stress.

It’s genetic in my experience. I couldn’t take the contraceptive pill ( late teens) due to high blood pressure. It’s been high all my life. Nearly everyone in my family has similar issues. Lifestyle has made little to no impact.

Stress, infection, being hot or having just had a big meal can all contribute.
I am in my early 30s, super fit, non smoker and I had terrible HBP when my gran died. All caused by stress. It is righting itself now but I see why you’re worried.

thanks all - that's really useful. I'll try and take the stress out of the situation this weekend and see how she is. I'm really surprised the kidney consultant didn't do her BP but maybe they just don't for younger people. Her dad does have high BP (though he was a big smoker and drinker in his youth so I think the doctors blamed it on that!) so maybe it is a genetic thing.

Anxiety and stress can cause high BP. I can only imagine recurring UTIs will be adding to those things.

she's also coming off long term antibiotics for her UTIs so I think she is meant to be going back to the consultant so I'll also ask if she wants me to go with her (and hopefully help her feel a bit more calm!)

she's on the pill too which maybe she shouldn't be

I had high blood pressure first noticed when I was in my early teens. I've had 24 hour monitors and it generally settles at the high end or just over the high end of normal. Nobody is concerned (and I do also get white coat syndrome). Weirdly, it went down in pregnancy.

thanks, I didn't realise it could be so triggered by anxiety and stress - and she's had a lot of new things this last 12 months - new job, moved out into a house share, broke up with her boyfriend, recurrent UTIs!

Renal artery stenosis
Anxiety
Recurrent Infection
Cardiomyopathy
Vasculitis
Endocrine / adrenal problems

needs checking out to exclude one of these serious causes.

I had this from the pill when I was 19 too.