Health experts have warned that added sugars found in ultra-processed foods and drinks may cause high blood pressure, increasing the risks of heart attacks, strokes, and premature death.

Research shows that people who get more than a quarter of their daily calories from added sugars, found in products like sodas and ready meals, face triple the risk of dying from heart disease compared to others.

According to the Daily Mail, about 14 million people in the United Kingdom suffer from high blood pressure, but the lack of symptoms means many are unaware until the condition causes serious damage.

Experts explained that the lack of awareness about added sugar levels in common foods leads to overconsumption, increasing the risk of life-threatening health conditions.

Studies show that added sugars contribute to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health problems that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Research indicates that consuming sugary drinks more than eight times a week increases the risk of coronary artery aneurysm by nearly one-third, and heart failure or stroke by one-fifth.

Additionally, elevated uric acid levels caused by sugars may impair nitric oxide production in the kidneys, leading to blood vessel constriction and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which affects electrolyte balance in the blood and may cause high blood pressure.

A Chinese study revealed that every additional 100 grams consumed daily of ultra-processed foods, high in sugar and sodium, increases the risk of cardiovascular events by about 6%, with a 14.5% increase in hypertension risk.

Ultra-processed foods include products containing artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives that extend shelf life.

Meanwhile, millions of Britons are expected to benefit from a new drug called “Baxdrostat,” described by experts as a “scientific breakthrough” for being the first treatment targeting the root cause of high blood pressure.

The drug is expected to be available through the National Health Service (NHS) by next year, at a time when premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases have reached their highest levels in over a decade, driven by factors such as poor sleep, unhealthy diets, excessive alcohol consumption, and chronic stress, especially among young people.