Towards A New Understanding Of Adulthood
Science, tell me how the next generation is doing.
If you're a young adult, chances are high blood pressure isn't high on your list of things to worry about. But a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests maybe it should be. They found that nearly one in five young adults between the ages of 24 and 32 has high blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension.
Okay, well, I can't exactly claim to be surprised by this, what with our sedentary lifestyles and the amount of processed crap we cram into our gullets as we sit, dull-eyed, in the reflected glare of one screen or another. But BACK THE FUCK UP FOR A SECOND? "[Y]oung adults between the ages of 24 and 32"? Really? Is that how we're defining it now? Because, WOO HOO, I guess that just makes me "an adult." We're totally going to take this "40 is the new 30" bullshit as far as we can, aren't we? Fine by me! As an adult—and one on the younger end of that definition—I feel entirely comfortable with that. Also, you kids should eat less salt, it's not good for your blood pressure.
Photo by Tom Raftery, from Flickr.
High blood pressure and hypertension are the same thing? Well, one less thing to worry about!
So basically, according to Science, we send kids four years shy of adulthood to war? Lovely. At least we don't let them drink!
@C_Webb: In our defense, if they were much older, it would be a lot harder to trick them into going to war.
@Moff: "Spring break* WOO!"
*in Afghanistan
@C_Webb 6 years shy of adulthood! And 7 years, with parental permission!
@cherrispryte: I'm better at indignation than I am at counting.
Fuck blood pressure. I'll settle for a pulse.
So that puts me in the target demographic for Twilight and Hunger Games? Huh.
Thank god. The best years are still ahead of me!!!
Salt ain't bad for you either, unless you're in a very small risk group. Honestly, just stop worrying. And then you can look like 24 at age 32!