Medical specialists in cardiology, hepatology and ophthalmology are issuing a common alert: serious diseases including hypertension, viral hepatitis and diabetic eye damage frequently develop without noticeable symptoms, delaying diagnosis until irreversible harm has occurred. The warnings, drawn from clinical observations in Argentina, Colombia, Iran and Singapore, underscore a global challenge in preventive care.

Argentine cardiologist Anyelen Nasif Bernardi noted a rise in unexplained tachycardia among patients, which she attributed to a “permanent state of anxiety” in modern life. She stressed that palpitations alone do not signal disease, but that emergency care is required if they are accompanied by sweating, leg pain, blurred vision or an inability to continue activity. Separately, the American Heart Association projects that by 2050 nearly 60 per cent of women will suffer from high blood pressure, a condition it calls a “silent killer” because it typically causes no symptoms until it damages the heart, brain or kidneys.

Hepatologists Cristina Torres and Mónica Tapias, based in Buenos Aires and Bogotá respectively, explained that hepatitis B and C together account for 95 per cent of viral hepatitis deaths worldwide, with 1.34 million fatalities in 2024 alone. Acute infection may cause jaundice, dark urine and fatigue, but chronic cases often remain asymptomatic for years, leading to cirrhosis or liver cancer. In Singapore, ophthalmologist Low Jin Rong cautioned that diabetic retinopathy and hypertensive eye damage can progress without pain or vision loss. “Clear vision does not always mean the retina, optic nerve and peripheral field are healthy,” he said, recommending comprehensive eye exams for at-risk patients.

The specialists converge on the need for proactive monitoring rather than waiting for symptoms. The American Heart Association notes that reducing systolic blood pressure by just 10 mmHg can cut stroke and heart attack risk by about 20 per cent, and that dietary changes such as the DASH diet can lower pressure by up to 11 mmHg. Iranian Red Crescent expert Elham Khademi advised recognising heart attack signs—chest pain radiating to the left arm, severe breathlessness, nausea and sudden anxiety—and seeking immediate help. Regular blood pressure checks, liver function tests and eye examinations are recommended even in the absence of discomfort.

No single regulatory or policy response is reported, but the consistent message from clinicians is that public awareness of asymptomatic disease remains low. The World Health Organization’s latest data on hepatitis, cited by the specialists, indicates that 1.8 million new infections occur each year, reinforcing the urgency of screening and vaccination where available.