A cardiologist has issued a warning over a 'silent killer' health condition that should never be ignored, especially if you do experience three 'subtle' symptoms. Speaking on the latest episode of the ZOE Science and Nutrition podcast, consultant cardiologist and heart specialist Dr Sanjay Gupta, MBBS, MRCP, MD, discussed the possible warning signs people should watch out for.
The episode is largely focused on high blood pressure, what causes it, how it can be treated and why it is "not a disease", but often a "scream for help". High blood pressure is still the main reason for heart-related deaths in England.
High blood pressure, officially called hypertension, is often referred to as a 'silent killer' since it typically doesn't show any symptoms. This means it can harm your body, particularly your heart, brain, and kidneys, for many years without you realising it.
This can greatly raise the chances of dangerous situations like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure, often until it's too late. The only way to find out if you have it is to have your blood pressure checked regularly, as it gradually worsens until serious problems occur.
Speaking to Jonathan Wolf, who is a ZOE cofounder and CEO, Dr Sanjay Gupta says high blood pressure is called the "silent killer" because it typically has few or no symptoms for most people, even when damaging organs over time. He says that only a minority develop noticeable warning signs, such as:
Fatigue
Headaches
Breathlessness during exercise (due to the heart working against higher pressure)
Besides rarely causing obvious symptoms, high blood pressure is also called a 'killer' because it raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Damaged arteries can lead to blockages or ruptures in the brain or heart. The heart gets overworked from pumping against high pressure, weakening it over time.
Reduced blood flow also impairs kidney function, potentially leading to failure. Damage to blood vessels can affect the eyes and brain, leading to vision problems and cognitive decline.
He stresses the importance of relying on measurements and organ checks - for example, retinal bleeding, heart thickening - rather than symptoms, as damage builds invisibly, leading to dementia, strokes, heart failure, or kidney issues. He urges viewers not to wait for signs and to instead monitor regularly.
Jonathan said: "Hypertension is often called the silent killer. Are there any symptoms that people at home could look out for themselves?" The health expert replied: "I think I mean certainly things like fatigue, headaches, breathlessness when you're exercising because your heart has to work against a higher pressure."
The podcast host asked: "Will everyone who has high blood pressure have symptoms and therefore know that something is going wrong?" The doctor said: "Not at all. Only a minority of people who have elevated blood pressure actually develop symptoms to the extent that they know something is wrong.
"Our nutrition plays a huge role. My belief is that the food industry is bothered about our taste, not about our health. And so a lot of compromises are made and we're consuming. All sorts of things that we have no idea of because they're packaged in a way which is sold to us as healthy."
Listing some of the biggest triggers for high blood pressure, Dr Gupta said: "I think alcohol plays a role. I think lack of sleep is huge. There are certain supplements which have been eroded in our diet. Magnesium, for example, due to modern farming methods, processing, and all those things, probably also has an impact on blood pressure.
"I think there are a ton of things in our environment, in our lifestyle, which contribute to essentially premature ageing of our blood vessels, which then become stiffer, and the blood pressure keeps going up. Obesity is a big thing, lack of exercise is a big thing."
Dr Gupta also strongly criticises treating high blood pressure with pills alone without addressing root causes, calling it a "disservice to patients". He explains that blood pressure is often a symptom ("a scream for help") of underlying issues like poor lifestyle, obesity, bad food, stress, and lack of sleep - not a standalone disease.
He claimed doctors often prescribe tablets that lower the numbers, making the patient think the problem is solved, but the root issues persist. He says this could lead to ongoing harm, as seen when treated patients still develop heart attacks or rising HbA1c (diabetes marker), showing treatment failure.
He advocates lifestyle changes first (diet, exercise, sleep) for natural reduction, using meds only if needed, without sacrificing quality of life.
