By Bulelwa Hoala
- The Gauteng Department of Health says hypertension cases are rising among young adults, with more than 26 000 people aged between 18 and 44 diagnosed in Gauteng between April 2025 and March 2026.
- Health officials warn that hypertension, known as the “silent killer”, can lead to stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure, with poor diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol use, and lack of exercise among the major risk factors.
- Residents are encouraged to get regular blood pressure screenings, adopt healthier lifestyles, and make use of free public healthcare services and chronic medication programmes available across Gauteng.
The Gauteng Department of Health has raised concerns over the growing number of young adults under the age of 45 being diagnosed with hypertension across the province.
According to the department, Gauteng recorded 69 125 new hypertension cases between April 2025 and March 2026. More than a third of these cases, 26 088, were among adults aged between 18 and 44.
Commonly known as the “silent killer”, hypertension is one of the leading causes of stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and premature death, often developing without any noticeable symptoms.
Health officials say unhealthy eating habits, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are among the major contributing factors behind the rise in cases.
Commemorating World Hypertension Day
The department highlighted the issue as the world commemorated World Hypertension Day on Sunday, 17 May 2026, under the theme “Controlling Hypertension Together!”, which focuses on improving awareness, prevention, early detection, and management of the condition.
“The Department joins the international community in commemorating World Hypertension Day, which is observed annually on 17 May. The 2026 theme, ‘Controlling Hypertension Together!’, highlights the importance of collective action in improving awareness, prevention, early detection and effective management of hypertension.
“While World Hypertension Day is observed on 17 May, the Department’s hypertension awareness, screening and prevention activities will continue beyond this commemoration as part of year-round public health and health promotion programmes across the province,” the department said.
As part of efforts to strengthen prevention and early detection, the department screened about 8.7 million adults for hypertension across Gauteng during the 2025/26 financial year.
Public healthcare facilities continue to offer free blood pressure screenings and chronic disease management services for people living with hypertension, diabetes and related conditions.
The department said Ward-Based Outreach Teams and Community Health Workers continue to provide health education, promote healthy lifestyles and encourage residents to undergo free blood pressure screenings at public healthcare facilities and community outreach programmes across Gauteng.
How to reduce your risk of hypertension
Whether you are looking to prevent hypertension or manage a diagnosis, health officials recommend taking the following steps:
- Exercise regularly and stay physically active.
- Reduce your salt intake and maintain a healthy diet.
- Stop smoking to improve overall heart health.
- Limit alcohol consumption.
- Go for regular blood pressure screenings, even if you feel healthy.
- Visit public healthcare facilities for free blood pressure checks and chronic disease management services.
- Take hypertension medication exactly as prescribed by healthcare professionals.
- Stick to your treatment plan to help manage the condition effectively.
The department further encouraged residents to register for the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution Programme, which allows patients to collect chronic medication closer to home and avoid long waiting times at healthcare facilities.
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