RISK FACTORS FOR ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION IN THE THIRDYEAR STUDENTS OF GRODNO STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

Background. The student age is characterized by high academic workload, stress, sleep disturbances, unbalanced diet, low physical activity, and the formation of harmful habits, all of which increase the risk of developing arterial hypertension (AH). The objective of the research. To study the prevalence of risk factors for AH among the third-year students of Grodno State Medical University (GrSMU) in the 2024/2025 academic year, as well as their influence and association with blood pressure and pulse levels. Materials and methods. The study involved 511 third-year students of GrSMU (2024/2025 academic year). An anonymous survey of students regarding the presence of risk factors for AH was conducted. Body weight, height, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, and pulse were measured. Results. The most common risk factors were identified: among male students, elevated body mass index (BMI) was observed in 25.2%; among female students, unbalanced diet (58.9%), excessive consumption of sweets (63.2%), and short sleep duration (