5 silent killer diseases that you may have and not know about

Everyone is prone to chronic illnesses. While some are preventable, others can be difficult to predict. Doctors believe early diagnosis and treatment can make recovery better and easier. However, to do that, one must be aware of their condition, which is only possible through early identification of symptoms or regular health screenings. But what if some diseases are asymptomatic, meaning they do not show any signs until it’s too late. These illnesses are also called ‘silent killers’. Some of the diseases are listed below:

​Also read: High cholesterol signs in fingers and toes​

High cholesterol is also called a silent killer, due to the reason that it does not produce any symptoms in patients until the levels reach a dangerous high. High cholesterol occurs when there is an excessive buildup of fatty substance also called LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood. It is primarily caused by unhealthy fatty, processed foods, toxic habits such as alcohol consumption and smoking and lack of exercise.

Diabetes refers to when a patient has too much glucose or blood sugar in their bloodstream. It either occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively utilize the insulin it produces, explains the Mayo Clinic. Diabetes makes for a concerning health ailment, mainly because it is a silent disease. It is called a ‘silent killer’ because in most cases patients do not know that they have the condition and symptoms only appear when the illness has reached a concerning stage.

Cancer is a life-threatening condition. What makes it concerning is that most cancers, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer, are silent. It is only detectable or confirmed through screening, which is an important tool for preventing cancer and making an early diagnosis. Depending on the location of the cancers, the treatment procedures can start.

Fatty liver diseases can be of two types: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Alcoholic fatty liver disease, also called alcoholic steatohepatitis. NAFLD is a type of fatty liver that is not related to alcohol consumption, whereas AFLD occurs due to heavy alcohol use. Fatty liver disease progresses gradually, which is why it does not manifest itself in the form of symptoms. It is a silent killer, wherein people experience no symptoms or mistake the signs for other benign ailments.