Cardiologist says 'silent killer' causes damage before it is detected

Cardiologist says 'silent killer' causes damage before it is detected Dr Nabila Laskar, a consultant cardiologist, explained the problem can act as a 'silent killer' A cardiologist has warned that a 'silent killer' often goes ignored because people dismiss the condition, thinking it won't need treatment if they can't see the symptoms. However, she said it may be 'too late' by the time 'something eventually appears'. Dr Nabila Laskar is a consultant cardiologist and specialist in cardiac imaging at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. Dr Laskar has also built a following on social media, including TikTok and Instagram, where she posts videos as @Thecardiologydoctors for more than 13k followers. In a recent post, she shared an educational video discussing a 'silent killer'. In her caption, Dr Laskar wrote: "Why do we have to take medication if we feel well? Sometimes you just have to consider the future you because when something eventually appears, it may be too late." In her video, the expert answered the question in more detail, explaining that people could be at risk if they don't seek treatment for high blood pressure. Dr Laskar said: "Today we're going to talk about a silent killer. Now there are many silent killers. To be honest, stress is probably one of the most important silent killers, but I'm going to be focusing on uncontrolled blood pressure because many of my patients say, 'If I can't feel it, why should I treat it?' And that is a good question." She continued: "I scanned someone a couple of weeks ago who was just in their early forties who had just been diagnosed with high blood pressure. And when I scanned them, the wall thickness of their left ventricle, which is the main pumping chamber of their heart, was significantly thickened. "And that means this person has had high blood pressure for a very long time that hasn't been treated. Now, if we left this patient without any treatment, they would eventually end up in heart failure. So high blood pressure, although you can't feel it, is actually very important." The NHS website shares advice for people with high blood pressure. The guidance says: "High blood pressure (also called hypertension) can lead to serious problems like heart attacks or strokes. But lifestyle changes and blood pressure medicines can help you stay healthy." The NHS reiterates that high blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but it is very common, especially in older people. Along with age, several other factors may increase your risk of high blood pressure. For instance, being overweight, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and feeling stressed over a long period can all be risk factors. The NHS adds: "You're at higher risk if you have a Black African, Black Caribbean or South Asian ethnic background." The NHS says you should get your blood pressure checked if you think you might have high blood pressure or be at risk of it. Always speak to a GP about any health concerns.