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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by Tort Defenders’ writers and staff and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney.
The CDC estimates that six in 10 adults experience at least one chronic illness. Many of these illnesses go undetected, making treatment more difficult and limiting the changes for positive long-term outcomes.
Early disease detection can be important for diseases like cancer that respond to early treatment but are often incurable in later stages. Routine checkups can also detect manageable conditions, like asthma or hypertension, that you can treat effectively after a correct diagnosis.
Here’s a closer look at the signs of nine common illnesses that often go undiagnosed.
Hypertension
Hypertension is often called high blood pressure. The CDC defines normal blood pressure readings as less than 120/80; the first number is a measurement of pressure in your arteries, and the second is the pressure in between heartbeats. Hypertension is when the pressure exceeds 140/90 on a regular basis, meaning the heart works harder to pump blood, raising the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.
Common risk factors for hypertension include a family history of hypertension, poor diet habits, being overweight, not exercising regularly, or having chronic high stress.
Healthcare providers check blood pressure during checkups, but home monitors can help people check blood pressure if they have a higher risk. You can enact lifestyle changes like a low-sodium diet, exercise, stress management, and limited alcohol consumption to try to naturally lower blood pressure.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a blood disease that occurs when your cells can’t absorb sugar correctly. At first, it causes low energy, sleepiness, and difficulty seeing clearly. These symptoms can eventually progress to include problems like heart or kidney disease. With severe diabetes, you might also have chronic infections that get so severe they can lead to limb amputation.
If you detect the disease early, it’s possible to manage your blood sugar levels naturally with what you eat. For example, a diet with whole grains, non-fatty meats, fruits, and vegetables can stop your blood sugar levels from spiking, which is what causes symptoms.
Most people don’t know they have diabetes until they get a blood test during a routine checkup. If you already have the disease, you can check your levels with blood tests or electronic devices at home. Doctors can show you how to read your blood sugar level and adjust your next meals to limit symptoms.
High Cholesterol
High cholesterol can cause build-up in your blood vessels, potentially increasing the risk of heart disease or a stroke. The build-up is caused by LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.
Since it rarely triggers symptoms, high cholesterol is often undetected until it gets picked up during routine blood tests. People with risk factors such as a family history of high cholesterol, a poor diet, obesity, or sedentary lifestyles are at a higher risk for developing high cholesterol.
A diet low in saturated fats, trans fats, and dietary cholesterol can help decrease LDL cholesterol. Beans, fruits, and vegetables can also reduce cholesterol absorption, as can fish, nuts, and seeds.
Routine blood tests can help monitor your progress and alert doctors of the need to add medications, like statins, to help control your LDL cholesterol.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis lowers bone mass and density, making bones weaker and more prone to fracture. It can affect all bones, especially the spine, hips, and wrists. With this condition, you can experience breaks with minor falls or bumps that would normally not cause serious injury.
The risk for osteoporosis increases with age. It is more common among women and people with high-risk habits like obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol use. Because osteoporosis rarely causes symptoms, it is frequently overlooked until an unexpected fracture occurs.
Once detected, you can manage osteoporosis by increasing calcium and vitamin D intake. You can add dairy, leafy greens, omega-3 fatty acids, and calcium-fortified foods to your diet to increase bone strength.
People at high risk for osteoporosis should get bone density scans to assist with early detection.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to a reduction in kidney function over time. Symptoms include fatigue, changes in urine frequency or color, difficulty concentrating, and a decreased appetite. Early-stage symptoms are so generic that most people ignore them until the disease becomes more serious.
Regular blood and urine tests to measure creatinine and protein levels can detect CKD. High-risk individuals, including people with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease, should have regular kidney function tests to detect problems before symptoms arise. This allows doctors to start treatment and manage the disease before it causes irreparable damage.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea often occurs during sleep, so the individual experiencing it may not realize what is happening. However, there are some signs and symptoms that might indicate the presence of sleep apnea, including:
Loud snoring: Sleep apnea is often accompanied by loud and persistent snoring, although not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
Pauses in breathing: Witnessed pauses in breathing during sleep, reported by a bed partner or family member.
Excessive daytime sleepiness: Feeling excessively tired during the day, even after a full night’s sleep.
Morning headaches: Waking up with headaches, which may be a result of oxygen deprivation during sleep apnea episodes.
Difficulty concentrating: Experiencing difficulties with focus, attention, and memory due to poor sleep quality.
Irritability: Feeling irritable, moody, or experiencing mood swings due to disrupted sleep.
If someone suspects they may have sleep apnea or if they experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional. A sleep study, conducted either at a sleep clinic or with a home sleep test, can diagnose sleep apnea and determine the appropriate treatment. Often, a doctor will prescribe a CPAP machine for a patient with sleep apnea.
Cancer
Early-stage cancers bring few or no symptoms, so they can easily be mistaken for other benign illnesses, complicating early detection. As a result, many patients don’t seek medical attention until they experience bleeding, severe pain, or other symptoms of mid or late-stage cancer. As cancer progresses and spreads, it becomes more difficult to treat, making early detection vital.
Regular screenings during preventive healthcare visits are essential, particularly if you have a family history of cancer or increased risk due to lifestyle choices. Exposure to chemicals, asbestos, or talcum powder may also lead to an increased risk, as can living in areas with high levels of air pollution or water contamination. For example, the water contamination at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina has been linked to different cancers, including leukemia, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Some common cancers are detected with regular testing. Mammograms and colonoscopies are critical for early diagnosis of breast and colorectal cancers. Other cancer screenings can also be useful if you have a family history of certain diseases.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a painful condition where tissue that is similar in structure to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside of the womb. This tissue also thickens, breaks down, and bleeds in accordance with the menstrual cycle, but because it has no way to exit the body, this condition can be very painful. Endometriosis typically affects the pelvic region, including the ovaries and fallopian tubes, but can spread to any part of the body.
Symptoms of endometriosis include pelvic pain, infertility, diarrhea or constipation, and periods that are exceptionally painful or heavy. Fatigue could be a signal to seek medical attention.
Although up to 10% of women overall and up to 50% of women with fertility problems experience endometriosis, the average time from the start of symptoms to receiving appropriate medical treatment is between four and 11 years.
It’s important to speak to your healthcare professional if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms. This is because the symptoms of endometriosis are similar to other conditions such as uterine fibroids or different types of reproductive cancers. While in many cases, the cause of endometriosis is not known, it has been linked to the use of certain products, such as chemical hair straighteners.
Depression and Anxiety
Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety are the leading causes of disability worldwide, but many individuals fail to recognize the symptoms or do not seek help.
Physical symptoms accompanying depression and anxiety are crucial for early detection, including changes in appetite, fatigue, sleep disturbances, muscle tension, and gastrointestinal problems. These often accompany mental symptoms like suicidal thoughts, a lack of interest in activities, and chronic nervousness.
Seeking professional help from therapists and psychiatrists is essential. They can provide tailored treatments such as behavioral therapy, coping strategies, or medication to address symptoms and improve mental well-being.
With regular medical checkups and a healthy lifestyle, you can avoid developing common chronic illnesses or successfully manage conditions that you already have.