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30 Things That Are Almost Like A Slow And Silent Death Sentence That Folks Don’t Realize
Sooner or later, death comes for us all. Sometimes you get a heads-up, like when you’re diagnosed with a terminal condition. Other times, it comes as a complete surprise - one second you’re here, the next you’re facing the afterlife.
Someone recently asked the internet what the silent life-enders are that people don’t realize are slowly shortening their lifespan, and netizens didn’t hold back with their answers. Here’s a collection of some of the most lethal culprits.
More info: Reddit
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#1
Unspoken grief. The kind that lingers quietly in the body, stored in joints, skin, appetite, sleep. People carry so much they never name, and it eats them in silence. The body remembers what the mouth refuses to.
Petra Peitsch 5 months ago
If you can"t by your own, seek for a psychologist. No, it's not a shame.
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#2
Sleep deprivation.
Petra Peitsch 5 months ago (edited)
Is real. I gave up a workplace in less than 1 year because of it. No, I can't manage waking up 5 days a week at 4.30 am.
#3
Apparently osteoporosis is known as the silent [death] because you don’t realise you have it. I’m 43 and have been recently diagnosed with it.
Edit: d**n I can’t believe this is the most upvotes I’ve ever had. Please advocate for your own healthcare, no one else is going to do it for you.
Petra Peitsch 5 months ago
It's up to every individual to spot the signs of it. is OP said, they were just 43 years old, when were diagnosed. Some expereince it at 40+, or at 50-60-70+ ... or never. Genetics plays a fair role in this one too.
Modern life is full of dangers we don’t see, or feel, coming. High blood pressure, often dubbed the “silent life-ender,” quietly strains arteries and organs. Experts say untreated hypertension can lead to heart attacks, strokes, or kidney failure, yet most people feel nothing until it’s too late.
Diabetes, especially Type 2, is another stealthy threat. Blood sugar can subtly oscillate for years, leading to nerve, kidney, and eye damage without clear warning signs. Experts stress that regular screenings (especially for those with a family history) can spot it early and prevent serious complications.
#4
Lack of exercise, present company included. Even just getting out and walking around the neighborhood for a while, gotta do something.
Uncle Panda 5 months ago
I get all my exercise on BP - leaping to conclusions, dodging responsibility, and running in circles.
#5
Honestly, I feel like I’m living to die. Wake up, work, pay bills, I can only afford s****y food, walking outside in s****y polluted air, can’t buy a home unless I’m in a relationship (in some cases 2 incomes aren’t enough), student loans defaulting, regular loans defaulting. And sadly, I can’t possibly be the only one who feels this way. IN THIS ECONOMY… lol.
Alexia 5 months ago
Perhaps it would be helpful to find something meaningful to do - such as volunteer for any cause you care about (vulnerable children, endangered animals, local communities). Also, moving away if you can (as someone suggested below). Sometimes the place you were born/ grew up is simply not your place. (I guess OP is in the US. There is no issue with student loans in Europe - at least not in the EU countries.).
#6
Poor mouth hygiene.
DennyS (denzoren) 5 months ago
You save soo much in the long run from just routine brushing and flossing.
Your liver may be under attack too. Fatty liver disease often develops in silence, triggered by poor diet, inactivity, or alcohol. While reversible in early stages, it may progress to cirrhosis or liver failure long before symptoms emerge. Regular check-ups and lifestyle tweaks can be lifesavers.
While it may not be lethal, osteoporosis, the “silent bone-breaker,” usually shows up with fragility fractures, often after a minor fall. This makes bone-density scans invaluable. Detecting osteoporosis early empowers you to strengthen bones with exercise, calcium, and vitamin D before gravity delivers a cruel surprise.
#7
Poverty.
Bad public policy. Which in turn leads to poverty.
StrangeOne 5 months ago
Systemic discrimination and lack of mental health and addictions treatment is a driving cause for many of Canada's homelessness.
#9
Owning birds...their dust f***s up your lungs long term.
Alexia 5 months ago
That's a lot of birds in the photo (=a lot of feather dust, and a significant daily cleaning effort). I only have one and I wouldn't give it for the world. I call it "my feathered antidepressant" (photo with the spoiled fluff) 🤭 IMG_202504...9e5691.jpg 
Glaucoma robs vision slowly and quietly. About 40 % of vision might be lost before anyone notices. Annual eye exams (and routine “air puff” checks) are the only ways to catch it early and prevent blindness. Treatment can preserve sight but, once lost, it’s rarely regained.
Brain aneurysms may lie hidden for years without symptoms, until rupture strikes. Typically caused by genetics, high blood pressure, or trauma, they can cause sudden severe headaches, vision issues, or neurological problems. Managing blood pressure and early detection through imaging can prevent catastrophe.
#10
Keeping a*****e family around. Yes, they may not even realize the damage their toxic behavior does to others, and it’s incredibly painful to distance yourself or cut them off, but living life taking abuse is going to cut so much from your life. Get away and find yourself, and you’ll also find better health.
Alexia 5 months ago
NC with my a*****e family members a few years ago. I was surprised to feel so relieved and peaceful. I was warned they might cut off my part of inheritance, but I don't care. After moving away, I struggled with depression and s******l thoughts for years (never told them because they'd always mock me). Now this is all behind me. Nothing is worth your inner peace, really.
#11
Insulin resistance.
I spent years having cognitive issues (leading to one entirely avoidable accident), low energy, terrible sleep quality and being super susceptible to any kind of infection, only to discover that low dose semaglutide (which addresses insulin resistance) instantly fixed all of those issues.
Diabetes is not a good way to go, and doctors under prescribe semaglutide given it’s high cost. All I got were suggestions to live a less stressful life, exercise more and eat healthier, which I tried and didn’t find at all productive.
#12
Sugar. Everyone is so obsessed with food being fat-free, but it's sugar they should be wary of.
Petra Peitsch 5 months ago
I would say corn syrup, if it's about the USA. You need some kind of sugar, but corn syrup is the worst, from what you can have it.
Chronic stress and high-demand jobs can stealthily raise risks of metabolic illnesses like Type 2 diabetes, through sustained insulin resistance. A Swedish study found emotionally draining jobs increased diabetes risk by up to 47% . Stress management, regular movement, and healthy eating can help shield long-term health.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the deadliest silent killers, and it’s completely odorless and invisible. Often dubbed the “invisible enemy,” it can build up in homes from faulty heaters or poor ventilation. Without a detector, people may fall asleep and never wake up. Installing CO alarms can literally mean the difference between life and death.
#13
Being mostly sedentary. Even if you aren’t overweight, you’re screwing yourself out of a longer, higher quality life if you aren’t moving and exercising. Being strong isn’t optional if you want to feel great.
DennyS (denzoren) 5 months ago
I feel this to my core. When I worked a traveling officer or on a farm I was active all day and felt great. Started desk jobs and immediately put on a ton of weight.
#14
Processed "food". Most of the rest of the world has already banned high fructose corn syrup, when will the US catch up?
Sue Mullen Andersen 5 months ago
This is misleading. Most of the world has not banned it, though it is regulated. A quick Google search will show you this.
#15
Liver disease. It’s likely that the prevalence of fatty liver disease is up to 1 in 3 people. Fatty liver is harmless but it can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure over a long period of time. The vast majority of people will have zero symptoms until they’re on the brink of total liver failure.
StrangeOne 5 months ago
My daughter's pediatrician sub noticed yellowing on the inside of her elbows, and that it's a sign of possible liver problems, but it's treatable at that level. So he said to cut down on the sugars and greasy food. It did go away. She wasn't overweight and otherwise healthy. But that was enough of a scare.
Bottom line? These hidden health threats don’t knock before entering. The antidote? Regular screenings; from blood pressure checks and glucose tests to bone-density scans and eye exams. Detecting issues early saves lives. A random test could mean decades more quality life - don’t leave it until it’s too late!
So, readers? What do you think of this list? Are you at risk of succumbing to any of these silent life-enders? Upvote the ones you’re most concerned about and don’t forget to leave a comment if the urge grabs you!
#17
If you are in the UK it could be lead. There are around 10,000 lead mines in England alone. Most abandoned and never made safe. Also used in pipes and paint until the 90s.
A number of people (no testing so no way of knowing how many) make themselves sick decorating their house, by dry sanding lead paint.
Ace 5 months ago (edited)
Lead in pipes hasn't been a thing for decades, and even if it's still there in older properties the basic precautions that we learned as kids will suffice, that is: run the cold tap for a minute to clear out any water that's been sitting in the pipe and never use water from the hot tap for cooking or drinking. Accidents involving abandoned lead mines are incredibly rare.
#18
Stress.
StrangeOne 5 months ago
I categorize the causes of stress into 2: Situations in my control, and situations out of my control. Then any stress I feel I use that as a tool for motivation and determination to get the problem solved. Even if it takes awhile, I can go to sleep knowing I'm in the process of handling it and there will be an end.
#20
Overworking.
#21
Sleep apnea.
Zaach 5 months ago
If you know someone who snores loudly - tell them; no one told me I snored until I walked into a conversation and everyone stopped talking. My gf at the time said she would wake up when I stopped breathing and could not go back to sleep until I took a breath. Not telling them endangers them
#22
Not wearing sunscreen and getting skin cancer.
StrangeOne 5 months ago
People don't realize that even during winter, it's just as important to wear sunscreen. The snow reflects the sunlight and can cause damage and skin cancer. It doesn't take being hot and sunburnt.
#23
Your job and a toxic manager.
#26
The hundreds of little bad lifestyle habits that add up in the end.
Petra Peitsch 5 months ago
Overstressing about "healthy-lifestyle" may have the same effect....
#28
Repeated COVID infection.
#29
Time.
#30
Breathing. Our bodies are in a constant war to repair the damage oxidation of our internal organs causes.
LooseSeal's $10 Banana 5 months ago
Yes, breathing is terrible for us. It keeps a mere 100% of humanity alive.
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Littlemiss 5 months ago
Asbestos is one if these things. My father came home covered in it in the 80s. 30 years later it caused the cancer that killed him. I have symptoms that relate back to my exposure to it now. Hopefully I have time still.
Apatheist Account2 5 months ago
Some of these are about how one deals with them - eg a toxic manager isn't a health hazard if one has the right attitude towards them, and in my case I found it simple to dismiss them as an idiot and move one.
Littlemiss 5 months ago
Asbestos is one if these things. My father came home covered in it in the 80s. 30 years later it caused the cancer that killed him. I have symptoms that relate back to my exposure to it now. Hopefully I have time still.
Apatheist Account2 5 months ago
Some of these are about how one deals with them - eg a toxic manager isn't a health hazard if one has the right attitude towards them, and in my case I found it simple to dismiss them as an idiot and move one.
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