The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has listed five dangerous health conditions that can develop for years without presenting any symptoms.
The list, reported by Spanish newspaper El Tiempo, highlights medical issues that can quietly progress inside the body while causing severe internal damage before a patient notices any warning signs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the primary national public health agency of the United States, regularly issues guidance on chronic disease prevention and early detection.
Hypertension and diabetes
Officials at the agency named arterial hypertension as the first condition on the list. Experts noted that hypertension is often referred to as a silent killer because symptoms may fail to appear even when blood pressure reaches dangerously high levels.
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body. Over time, unmanaged pressure can strain the cardiovascular system and damage delicate blood vessels.
Specialists also included diabetes mellitus on the list of asymptomatic conditions. According to experts, diabetes often runs without symptoms during its early stages, even though damage to blood vessels, nerves, kidneys and eyes is already taking place.
Diabetes is a long term health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. When left unmanaged, elevated blood sugar levels gradually injure major organ systems throughout the body.
Silent progression of HIV and osteoporosis
Experts added that HIV infection can also progress for years without producing noticeable symptoms. Human immunodeficiency virus targets the immune system, gradually weakening the body's natural defenses against infections and illnesses if left undetected.
In addition, osteoporosis displays no signs for extended periods. Specialists said the condition is frequently diagnosed only after a patient suffers their first bone fracture. Osteoporosis causes bones to lose density and become porous, increasing the risk of sudden breaks.
Kidney disease and blood pressure monitoring
Chronic kidney disease was named by the agency as another condition that remains symptom-free until its late stages. The progressive condition hampers the kidneys' ability to filter waste products and excess fluids from the blood.
To help guard against heart attacks, cardiologist Valentina Baydina previously advised individuals to monitor their blood pressure on a regular basis. Continuous tracking allows patients to detect dangerous changes early and seek medical intervention.
