A recent analysis of nearly 40 million pregnant individuals cited that Gen Z and Millennials are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure during pregnancy than previous generations.
According to the study, as cited by Today, Gen Z and Millennials were 2.61 times more likely to have hypertension during pregnancy than Baby Boomers and 1.5 times more likely than Gen Xers.
“The most important message from our study is that younger generations have higher rates of new-onset hypertension, one of the leading causes for bad outcomes and death of the mother and the baby,” said study co-author Dr. Sadiya Khan, an assistant professor of medicine and preventive medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Khan hypothesized that worsening diets, higher obesity and lower levels of activity could be factors.
“Individuals now are entering pregnancy with more excess weight,” Khan said.
Hypertension during pregnancy can lead to stroke, heart failure and death —along with impaired growth for the baby or premature delivery.
