Given a choice I would rather have a painful disease, because pain will make me rush to take treatment. But if I have a disease without symptoms my body may be damaged without my knowing it! High Blood Pressure (HBP, hypertension) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) are such diseases. They have few or no symptoms to begin with, but nevertheless damage the body slowly. No wonder they are called ‘Silent Killers’, since they are so treacherous.

If HBP and DM are detected early, such patients can lead a normal life and suffer very few complications. Well treated hypertensives and diabetics may live as normally as persons without these diseases. But if these ‘silent killers’ are not caught in time and properly treated, it may lead to a  lot  many diseases.

It is difficult to believe that you have either HBP or DM when you have no symptoms (no pain, no discomfort). And on top of that your doctor tells you that you must reduce weight, restrict salt and sugar and take medicine! Your first reaction may be disbelief and disregard. Perhaps you might ignore your doctor’s advice. But note, this is the crucial time to begin treatment, because it avoids complications and saves your life.

In short, both high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.