While most diseases progress with obvious symptoms, silent diseases do the opposite. Every year, millions of people are informed that they are suffering from serious conditions and illnesses, with the signs often only presenting themselves after significant progression. Without regular check-ups and tests, it’s almost impossible to identify a silent disease.
Experienced medical professionals – like primary care physician Dr Wael Berro – recommend annual check-ups to fight the silent disease epidemic. Silent diseases often advance rapidly, but they can be combated, or even reversed, if they are caught early enough. In some cases, such as with diabetes, early detection is also crucial for ensuring that the condition is properly managed to avoid complications.
A general health check-up should take several important factors into account, including:
- Age
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Line of work
- Lifestyle choices, such as smoking
- Family medical history
It’s typically recommended that any adults aged over 30 should go for these check-ups regularly, at least once per year. With all of the above factors in mind, the medical practitioner performing the check-up will carry out various tests to evaluate the health of the patient and identify any silent diseases. Medical professionals agree that this gives affected individuals the best chance of recovery and survival.
During the check-up, the doctor will carry out various general screenings of blood and vital organs, including the heart and kidneys, to check for early markers of serious conditions. Even something as simple as high blood pressure could be indicative of a potential future heart attack or stroke. To learn more about what a general check-up involves, see the embedded PDF.
Some of the primary diseases and conditions that regular health screenings look out for are hypertension, which is very hard to detect without taking blood, diabetes, which can masquerade as fatigue while damaging vital organs, and cancer, which rapidly develops if left untreated. If any of those silent diseases are discovered, quick action can be taken to treat them before they become more serious.
The main objective of regular health check-ups is to take a preventative approach to fighting disease. It’s far easier to combat dormant or early-stage symptoms than those that have advanced. These tests can also identify individuals who are at higher risk of developing an illness in the future and help them to take preliminary action. Even those with a clean bill of health have the chance to enhance their quality of life moving forward.