From high BP to pancreatic cancer, warning signs of 3 'silent killers'

Certain health conditions are dubbed as “silent killers,” which means they can secretly keep progressing in your body, without triggering many warning signs. The signs often appear when the disease has progressed to an advanced stage, making treatment difficult and complications more rampant. Here are 3 such medical conditions that are called ‘silent killers,’ and they end up taking millions of lives each year worldwide. These include high blood pressure, diabetes and pancreatic cancer. While the warning signs won’t always appear for these conditions, sometimes knowing what to look for can help spot them timely.

High blood pressure can lead to cardiovascular problems, ranging from heart disease to strokes. Many people with high blood pressure are unaware they have it as the condition doesn’t necessarily make you feel unwell or sick. Here are some warning signs to pay attention to:

According to the British Heart Foundation, the following red flags could appear: blurred vision, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and headaches. Get your BP levels tested to get a clear diagnosis and treatment from your doctor.

Diabetes can lead to serious complications, including heart attacks and cancer, according to Diabetes UK. Many people have diabetes “for years” without realizing because the early symptoms “tend to be general”, according to NHS UK. Timely diagnosis of diabetes is essential to prevent any serious complications.

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According to the NHS UK, it is important to see your doctor and get checked for diabetes if you are feeling very thirsty, peeing more frequently than usual, particularly at night, and feeling very tired. Other signs include weight loss and loss of muscle bulk, itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush, and blurred vision.

According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers. Further, this cancer type doesn't usually cause symptoms in the early stages. Still, here are some signs associated with this cancer that you should not ignore if you ever spot them. Consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis and do not jump to conclusions as these signs may not necessarily belong to only cancer and could be caused by some other not-so-serious condition.

According to the NHS UK, tell-tale signs include – jaundice as well as itchy skin, darker pee and paler poop than usual. One may also experience loss of appetite or lose weight without trying to. Feeling tired or having no energy, high temperature, or feeling hot or shivery, feeling or being sick, diarrhea or constipation, or other changes in your poop are also red flags to not ignore.