Your body can sometimes be dealing with serious health problems long before you notice anything is wrong. Conditions affecting vital organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys may develop quietly, with few or no obvious symptoms in their early stages.
The good news is that many of the major risk factors are identifiable and, in many cases, manageable.
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High blood pressure: a silent threat to the heart and kidneys
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most important health risks to watch. It often causes no noticeable symptoms, yet persistently elevated blood pressure can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
The World Health Organisation identifies unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption and being overweight or obese among important modifiable risk factors.
Regular blood-pressure checks can help identify the problem before serious complications develop.
Fatty liver can develop without obvious warning
The liver can also be affected by a condition that often produces few or no symptoms: fatty liver disease.
According to the World Health Organisation, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, involves excess fat accumulating in the liver.
This is associated with conditions including overweight or obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high triglycerides and metabolic syndrome.
Although some people may experience tiredness or discomfort in the abdomen, many have no symptoms; in more serious cases, liver inflammation and damage can progress to cirrhosis and, in some people, liver cancer.
Your kidneys can be damaged silently
The kidneys are one of the most vulnerable to conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels supplying the kidneys, while diabetes can also contribute to kidney damage.
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Heart disease may develop
Cardiovascular disease remains the world’s leading cause of death. The health organisation says major behavioural risk factors include tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and harmful alcohol use.
All these can contribute to high blood pressure, high blood glucose, abnormal blood lipids and obesity.
So, what can you do?
Protecting vital organs does not necessarily require complicated measures. Important steps include:
- Have your blood pressure checked regularly.
- Know your blood glucose and cholesterol levels, particularly if you have risk factors.
- Maintain a healthy weight and stay physically active.
- Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables while limiting excess salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.
- Avoid tobacco.
- Limit harmful alcohol consumption.
- Speak to a healthcare professional if you have persistent symptoms or multiple risk factors.
The World Health Organisation also notes that many major noncommunicable diseases share the same preventable risk factors, including tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and harmful alcohol use.
With regular health check-ups, you can help uncover problems before they become more serious.
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Featured image: Pexels
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