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We often assume our bodies will send a clear signal when something is seriously wrong. Something like a sharp pain, a persistent cough, or a h**h fever. But a sobering online thread posed a terrifying question: what’s one condition that can have no symptoms but can be instantly fatal?

The responses, many from medical professionals and those who have lost loved ones, are a chilling look at the "silent killers" that can lurk undetected in seemingly healthy people. These are the medical time bombs that can strike without warning. If this isn’t a reminder of the fragility of life, what is?

More info: Reddit

#1

Elderly man wearing a cap and jacket, standing outdoors, representing terrifying medical conditions with no symptoms. My grandfather died from a pulmonary embolism. He had no symptoms, he just stood up from the table, collapsed, and died.

CaptainFartHole , G T Report

Mel in Georgia
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My parents were visiting friends. The wife said she had a headache and went upstairs to get an aspirin. They heard a thud and found her on the floor - gone. Horrifying for everyone!

R Dennis
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got really dizzy. By the time I went downstairs, I told my wife I needed an ambulance - I got two. I was about to lay down and go to sleep. I was told I never would have woken up. Multiple clots in both lungs, upper right lobe infarction (partially dead due to blood blockage). Every doctor and nurse kept telling me how lucky I was to be alive. Three years later and I have to take blood thinners every day due to "sticky blood".

otiose
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is more understandable and expected in older people - it's when it happens to someone under 60 that really hits hard. Nobody lives forever. I think I would rather go quickly than long and drawn out (suffering).

Upstaged75
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A friend of mine was 40 when she dropped dead from an aneurism in her brain. She had a 4 year old kid at the time. Devastating.

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KrazyChiMama
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father had bilateral saddlebag pulmonary emboli…he survived because I acted fast driving him myself to the ER as he refused to let me call an ambulance. He collapsed when we were getting him into a wheelchair…he survived but had to be on a ventilator for a few days. what clued me in was his color, he turned grey!

Jane Doe-Doe
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same happened to my neighbour, she was cleaning out the rabbit cage , told her daughter that she didn’t feel right and dropped down dead

T.M.P Janssen
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My old neighbour from downstairs died like that. Sat outside on the balcony, stepped inside and dropped dead. 65 years old. Family never knew what exactly it was because they had little time to bring him back "home" for burrial, so nobody looked too closely afaik

RELATED:
    #2

    Smoke swirling in dark background representing terrifying medical conditions that can end someone without symptoms Carbon monoxide poisoning.

    TransitionAdvanced21 , Bernd 📷 Dittrich Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Which is why spending $20 on a detector could save your life! I have 2 in my place - one is part of the smoke/fire alarm and the other is a plug in.

    KrazyChiMama
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I, too, have the plug in type of detector. Cost about $50. Lasts a lifetime.

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    #3

    A young man sleeping with eyes closed, partially covered by pillows, representing silent terrifying medical conditions. Sleep apnea doesn’t exactly have “no symptoms”, but the daytime symptoms can be dismissed easily I think. That goes double for somebody who is single and doesn’t have somebody to catch them displaying nighttime sleep apnea symptoms. It’s not necessarily the sleep apnea that ki**s directly, but highly increases the risk of other silent kil***rs.

    awsqu , minh đô Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. The CPAP mask did keep me from snoring when I slept because it kept me from sleeping entirely. The doctor said "Well, losing 50 pounds might help." I lost 75, and it was gone.

    R Dennis
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My brain shuts off. During my sleep study, my body stopped breathing 843 times.

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    Roni Stone
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Diagnosed with an undetermined arrythmia and the first thing my primary scheduled was sleep apnea testing. My cardiologist also recommended it. It seems that sleep apnea greatly increases the chance of strokes and certain arrythmias which may also cause strokes, sleep apnea needed to be ruled out. It wasn't ruled out so I now have a brand shiny new CPAP set up. I've already had two non=catastrophic strokes. Not taking chances with a third.

    C Hendrix
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Husband was known for his extra-loud snoring -- I said it sounded like dinosaurs in heat driving heavy machinery through an artillery barrage. Then I noticed he wasn't just snoring, he was snoring in a pattern I recognized from my childhood when I'd stay with my grandmother. There would be five or six loud snores, a pause, then one really heavy loud snore. Rinse and repeat. I *finally* was able to convince him to get a sleep test, even though he claimed he didn't need one. He just kept falling asleep -- what finally convinced him to take the test was when he fell asleep in the dentist chair. He wore a sleep monitor for the test, and that's when he discovered he had quit breathing 350 times in 7.5 hours. It turned out he had both obstructive apnea, where the throat closes, and central sleep apnea, where his brain forgets to tell him to breathe. He grumbled about having to use a CPAP at first, but after about six weeks he said, "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME SLEEP FELT SO GOOD?!?"

    Taibhse Sealgair
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just to add: Sleep apnea was one of the two factors the LA Coroner cited in Carrie Fisher's death. (The other was fat around her heart.)

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    Before we dive into this sobering topic, a crucial disclaimer is in order. Reading about these conditions can be deeply unsettling and may trigger health anxiety. This is related to a very real condition known as Illness Anxiety Disorder (formerly hypochondria).

    As the Cleveland Clinic explains, individuals live with a persistent fear of having a serious illness, often misinterpreting minor or normal bodily sensations as symptoms of a catastrophe. It's a state of h**h alert where every headache or dizzy spell feels like a potential disaster.

    The goal of this thread is not to fuel that fear but to strike a crucial balance between awareness and anxiety. Knowledge about these rare but real conditions should be a t**l for empowerment, not a source of panic.

    The key is to channel concern into proactive health management, understanding your family history, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and having regular check-ups and honest conversations with your doctor.

    #4

    Close-up of a bee clinging to a window screen, symbolizing terrifying medical conditions without symptoms risk. Undiagnosed allergy. I've seen a dude drop dead after his very first bee sting. Took about 2 min.

    Drinking beer on a patio, dude swears and jumps up.
    Gf says omg I think you just got stung by a bee.
    Dude says f**k I'm sooo thirsty and downs a huge glass of water Joey milk style.
    Hits the ground. Face starts swelling up.
    Paramedics show up like 5 min later, doa.


    I've seen similar with a girl's first time at the seafood restaurant I worked at in college but she made it.

    dropthemasq , Levi Grossbaum Report

    Gaius214
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The only way you can drop dead from a "1st" bee sting is if you have other underlying allergies or conditions.The dude probably got stung as a child didnt remember, setting up his body & probably had a severe allergy. I have one myself & have moments to use epipen & get to hospital asap. I feel bad for you & anyone else who watched him die. In my case someone knew what was going on & "stung" me with an epipen, very sobering.

    Min
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The first words in the post are, "Undiagnosed allergy."

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    Jenny
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You have to have been stung/exposed to an allergen in the past to have developed the allergy. My daughter's allergist told me this after her first anaphylaxis.

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    #5

    Doctor measuring blood pressure of patient, illustrating terrifying medical conditions that show no symptoms but can be fatal. Blood pressure, I did a blood pressure clinic once at a park, and this young guy came, sat down, we chatted his bp was 200/100, I asked him if he felt okay, he said yeah, I'm fine. I said see your doctor.

    Late-Chip-5890 , Ahmed Report

    Mel in Georgia
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's a reason they call it the silent killer.

    Artful Penguin
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was diagnosed with high blood pressure about 10 years ago (in my 30's). It was so high the doctor was actually amazed that I was still conscious while sitting in the exam room.

    JayWantsACat
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, I was preparing for surgery and my blood pressure was surprising high, like this. I need to lose weight but I'm not overly over weight and my diet isn't particularly terrible. Just too much drinking and not enough exercise. They had to put my on blood pressure meds so I could have the surgery. It really woke me up because they also asked me how I was feeling and I didn't and dont feel bad.

    Jenny
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My (treated) BP is regularly over 200/100, and has been for years. I'm still waiting to drop dead from it.

    #6

    Woman in an orange blouse clutching her chest in pain, illustrating terrifying medical conditions with no symptoms. Women have more subtle symptoms of heart disease. I work in the medical field and have seen more than my fair share of women with zero significant medical history drop dead from a cardiac related death. Usually see it in late 60s - 70s. A lot of research is male-centric from my understanding which is why symptoms for women are often missed.

    https://www.goredforwomen.org/.

    Bitchinfussincussin , Drazen Zigic Report

    Crystal M
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's like playing Russian Roulette when you have GERD and an arrythmia. After an ER visit or two, you play a dangerous guessing game.

    Roni Stone
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Especially if the medical staff isn't particularly women friendly.

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    Earonn -
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thanks, patriarchy! (And before any clever boy comes along with "it's harder to do research on women" - yeah thainks for telling us that rather than putting effort into us, you'd let us die. That's SO much better!)

    Mel in Georgia
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Symptoms Specific to Women: Back pain, Abdominal pain, Chest burning or heartburn, Flu-like symptoms, and Fatigue that worsens with activity.

    jasper
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And jaw pain. That's a big one, too.

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    One of the most frequently cited and terrifying silent conditions is an aortic aneurysm, specifically a rupture. The aorta is the body's main artery, a superhighway for blood leaving the heart. An aneurysm is a bulge or weak spot in the wall of this artery.

    According to the CDC, these aneurysms can develop slowly over years without a single symptom. A person can feel perfectly healthy while this ballooning vessel grows.

    The instant fatality comes when the aneurysm ruptures or dissects. This causes massive, catastrophic internal bleeding. A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), the most common type, is a medical emergency with an incredibly h**h fatality rate.

    The CDC notes that roughly 45% of people with a ruptured AAA die before they even reach a hospital. It is the definition of a ticking time b**b, as the first symptom is often the fatal event itself.

    #7

    Close-up of a dog's open mouth showing sharp teeth biting a person's hand, symbolizing terrifying medical conditions. I don't know about no symptoms, but once rabies presents itself, its a wrap. .

    Kozaba , aleksandarlittlewolf Report

    Serena Myers
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A few (very few) people have survived, such as Jeanna Giese. She was bitten by a rabid bat, and placed into an induced coma, called the Milwaukee Protocol. She said she "basically had to relearn how to talk, walk, move and eat again" Moral of the story, do not pick up a bat (the mammal, not the object) just because you're an animal lover.

    yjgrx96q5p
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Humans can get a pre-exposure rabies vaccination (and is covered by most insurance). Two shots, one week apart, they are about the same as a flu vaccine. Lasts 10 years before you need a booster. Most states (in the US) require rabies vaccines for dogs. Dogs get a cute collar that says what year they got their rabies shot, I didn't get one. The post-exposure includes 4 of the above shots plus gamma globulin (which is not covered by most insurance in the US) and the gamma globulin is very very expensive (like decent used car price).

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    #8

    View of beach and ocean through large pipe opening, illustrating hidden dangers like terrifying medical conditions without symptoms. Not exactly a medical condition but hydrogen sulfide - H2S - poisoning will do that.

    It's (one of) the gas that builds up in sewers and confined spaces where there's decomposition. It's why you should never, ever enter to help someone in there if you're not equipped.

    0.07% of it will k**l you in a few minutes, 0.1% will k**l you in a few breaths.

    Some gas wells are known to produce gas with over 10% H2S in it.

    MudMonyet22 , wirestock Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There was a farm family where most of them perished after they kept going in to the manure pit to save others who had passed out.

    Jared C
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    3 men here, a couple of months ago,were k****d in a sewer opening one after the other. One entered, collapsed. The next went on after him. Collapsed. Same for the third.

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    #9

    Person forming a heart shape with hands over chest wearing white shirt with a small red heart symbol in the center. My family has a history of aortic aneurysms. Basically the aorta stretches out and becomes very fragile. In most cases, the first symptom is it when it ruptures and once it ruptures you have about 10 minutes to live because you’re internally bleeding to death. All the adults in my family are supposed to get CT scans every 5 years to measure our aortas because of the lack of symptoms.

    andine_lod , rawpixel.com Report

    Crystal M
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sudden severe pain in the back, abdomen, chest, or groin, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting are the symptoms. Treatment is possible if you recognize the signs and are very close to a trauma center.

    jasper
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thank you. As a medical dispatcher- it's surprising how many people present with these symptoms.

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    A brain aneurysm is similar to an aortic aneurysm but located in the brain and is a weak, bulging spot on the wall of a brain artery. The Brain Aneurysm Foundation estimates that as many as 1 in 50 people in the U.S. have an unruptured brain aneurysm, and the vast majority of these will never cause a problem or even be detected.

    The danger occurs if the aneurysm ruptures, which causes a subarachnoid hemorrhage, aka bleeding into the space surrounding the brain. This is a type of stroke, and it is instantly catastrophic.

    Patients often describe it as the "worst headache of their life," a thunderclap of pain that is sudden and severe. According to the National Institute of Health, about 25% of people who suffer a rupture don't make it past the first 24 hours, and many survivors are left with permanent neurological deficits.

    #10

    Model of a human heart showing veins and arteries, illustrating terrifying medical conditions without symptoms. Enlarged heart. (I apologize if someone called this out by medical name…I don’t know what that is.)

    A friend of mine many years ago owned a music store where I lived. It was where he bought my first guitar, and Chuck helped me out and was just as cool of a guy as you could ask for.

    I ran into him at the gas station by my house one night. Complete surprise (his shop was on other side of town) but struck up a convo and had a laugh. Said good night like nothing was out of the ordinary.

    I had guitar lessons the next day, and the guy I took them from rented a room at the shop. I walked in that day, and said my usual hi’s to whoever. And I asked the guy up front if Chuck was in just to harass him. His face went stone white.

    “Chuck died last night, dude.”

    “Huh? What do you mean? I ran into him at the Casey’s last night. He was fine.”

    “They said he got home from running some errands, and then plopped on the couch to watch tv. Fell asleep and never woke up.”

    Turns out, he had an enlarged heart. Basically, they can just wear themselves out. That’s what his did. It just…stopped.

    WisconsinHoosierZwei , jesse orrico Report

    Mel in Georgia
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The medical term is cardiomegaly.

    KrazyChiMama
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Usually caused by untreated high blood pressure but it can be genetic as well.

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    #11

    Young woman sitting on bed holding lower back in pain, illustrating terrifying medical conditions with no symptoms. I was told it should have k****d me. I had a triple rupture of my appendix, and I never felt it. A multiple rupture happens when the appendix ruptures, and then a growth forms around it, and that ruptures too.

    floorgunk , Sasun Bughdaryan Report

    KrazyChiMama
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It really hurts too! I had to have emergency surgery when I was 14…probably the worst pain I’ve ever experienced…kidney stones are second

    jasper
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That happened to my sister in law while she was on a vacation.

    #12

    Doctor explaining terrifying medical conditions that can end someone to a patient during consultation in clinic. Blockage of the left anterior descending artery. It’s called a widow maker and very dangerous.

    clovisx , DC Studio Report

    Big Chungus
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My dad had two of these two weeks apart, somehow he made it...def has a strong guardian angel because two years later he had a heart attack in the 2nd most important artery

    Juliana Cholak
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very true, it made me a widow after it happened to my husband.

    Artful Penguin
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My BIL had one while in the car. Luckily they were literally right next to a hospital and got him into the ER. The doctor said he wouldn't have made it home.

    Many people confuse sudden cardiac arrest with a heart attack, but they are not the same. A heart attack is a "plumbing" problem, while sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is an "electrical" problem where the heart's rhythm becomes chaotic and it suddenly stops beating effectively.

    According to the American Heart Association, SCA is a leading cause of fatalities, claiming more than 356,000 lives outside of a hospital setting each year in the U.S. alone. In many cases, it is the first and only sign of a heart problem.

    SCA can be caused by several undiagnosed underlying conditions. One of the most notorious is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic condition where the heart muscle thickens, making it harder to pump blood. It is the most common cause of sudden fatalities in young athletes, who may appear to be in peak physical condition with no prior symptoms.

    The heart's electrical system simply short-circuits, leading to an almost instantaneous loss of consciousness and, without immediate CPR and defibrillation, the end of life within minutes.

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    #13

    Woman in athletic wear resting on a rural road, highlighting risks of terrifying medical conditions with no symptoms. Pulmonary thromboembolism. The symptom may be as brief as shortness of breath or lightheadedness for less than minute or none at all.

    xdr567 , Rob Binder Report

    #14

    Man wearing glasses and a beige shawl covering his mouth, appearing unwell from a medical condition without symptoms Apparently some types of meningitis. Had a roommate who got a phone call while her brother was in post-boot camp training (whatever that's called) that he had meningitis and to come say goodbye. She had spoken to him the day before and he said he had just started feeling slightly off but not enough to sit out of anything. Not even 24 hours later, she got a phone call to come say goodbye. She got on the next flight and barely made it. In less than 48 hours he went from a healthy 19 year old to her at his bedside saying goodbye to him. Really heartbreaking.

    littleirishpixie , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

    R Dennis
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My parents had a daughter who had spinal meningitis and passed away at five. This was in the 60s and no one knew why... my mom never fully recovered. (I can't imagine how anyone could.)

    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My great grandmother's 8th child died in infancy from 'failure to thrive' (likely cystic fibrosis). My grandfather was child number 9 and never knew his mother as she was before losing her child, all he knew was his older brothers saying she used to be completely different.

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    v10011011
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So sad, that poor family ☹️

    KrazyChiMama
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I sadly encountered this aggressive meningitis (niseria strain) that kills in less than 24 hours while working in ER…I had to get prophylactic antibiotics because I did CPR for over 30 min…I’ll never forget her face or the sound her mother made when we had to tell her bad news :’(

    #15

    Woman in medical scrubs clutching chest and forehead in pain, illustrating terrifying medical conditions without symptoms. Aneurysm. Friend of mine died last year. She literally just dropped dead with no warning. Only in her late 30s.

    AriasK , mdjaff Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My father died of a brain aneurism after a week of agonizing headaches. His doctor told him it was just stress.

    UKDeek
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Subarachnoid haemorrhage is very nasty. You do get symptoms with them, often described as a sudden onset "thunderclap" headache, then comes the dizziness and nausea. Untreated, the first year mortality rate is about 65% (according to the NHS)

    Savannah greenleaf
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aneurysms are terrifying. I have read estimates of the percentage of people walking around with a time b**b of a blood vessel and completely unaware.

    Jenny
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My renal artery aneurysm was found purely by chance; it was spotted when I had a CT scan of my lungs and heart.

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    Chich the witch
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Had a friend die of this in his mid thirties. No warning at all. He had just returned home home from groceries with his wife. They put them away and he decided to nap on the couch. Never woke up.

    A pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage in a lung artery, and it is often the fatal conclusion to a condition that starts silently in the legs. The process usually begins with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where a blood clot forms in a deep vein, most commonly in the thigh or calf. DVT can have no symptoms, or it can be mistaken for a simple muscle cramp. The real danger arises if a piece of this clot breaks off.

    That piece of clot travels through the bloodstream, through the heart, and becomes lodged in one of the pulmonary arteries supplying the lungs. According to the National Blood Clot Alliance, about one-third of people with undiagnosed and untreated PE will not make it.

    If the clot is large enough (a "saddle embolus"), it can completely block blood flow to the lungs, being fatal almost instantly. It's a particularly h**h risk after long periods of immobility, like long-haul flights or recovery from surgery.

    #16

    Baby lying on a soft blanket indoors, representing awareness of terrifying medical conditions without showing symptoms. SIDS.

    Tasty-Bee-8339 , bristekjegor Report

    UKDeek
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sudden Infant Dea.th Syndrome in case anyone is interested. Also, there is SADS, sudden adult dea.th syndrome. Neither of them have any warning signs or symptoms - the person generally just goes to sleep and never wakes up. More sinister is the fact that both these involve younger people.

    Roni Stone
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My daughter's brother-in-law lost an 11 year old child very similarly. She went to bed and never woke again.

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    AnaBanana
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Any new parent is deathly afraid of SIDS, I felt like I NEVER slept after my daughter was born. Sometimes it just happens, other times it can be prevented- smoking has been linked to 20% of all SIDS cases.

    UKDeek
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For many years medical professionals have tried to find links, but they are quite tenuous.

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    KrazyChiMama
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My oldest cousin lost her second child to SIDS he was 7 days old.

    UKDeek
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is truely aweful - there are no tests, no indicators and no signs or symptoms. Normally fit and healthy individuals just go to bed and di.e in their sleep.

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    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There was an Australian woman who lost 4 babies to what was originally called SIDS, but then she was charged with their murders (on circumstantial evidence). After decades in gaol, they discovered that at least two had a genetic heart disease, so likely others did too. She was released from gaol and is trying to live a normal life. I hope that the research that freed her might help with discovering what causes SIDS.

    #17

    Doctor consulting a patient about terrifying medical conditions that can end someone without showing any symptoms in a clinical setting. Cancer, you can be totally fine, then one day you feel weird, cancer spreads all over, and you're dead in weeks.

    Not "instant" technically, but instant in that once you show symptoms, it's already too late.

    Get those checks people.

    Bombastic_tekken , freepik Report

    John Dilligaf
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    one of my cousins. Collapsed at work. Was gone in less than 2 weeks. Massive tumor in the brain. No symptoms at all, until he fainted.

    Taibhse Sealgair
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Co-worker. Sitting at work typing on his PC and felt a sharp pain in his right forearm along with what he called a "crack" sound. It was his forearm bones snapping due to bone cancer. Two weeks.

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    We ride at dawn biatches
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Two days ago an ex coworker died, she heard two weeks ago she had cancer...

    Jenny
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My MIL died within 2 weeks of her lung cancer diagnosis.

    AnaBanana
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My go to hair salon closed because the owner retired and sold the building. I followed my hairstylist to a new location, but due to having a newborn, time, money, etc. I had not gotten my hair done in over a year. When I did go in, I asked about the other hairstylist that was employed at the previous salon as she had done my hair a handful of times when my stylist was not available. She ended up passing 6 months after the salon closed. Diagnosed with lung cancer in January because she was feeling off, died 6 weeks later in February.

    Chich the witch
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I survived but the leukemia I had comes on very quickly. Only a matter of days. Treatment is very successful but long. I asked and was told that If you ignore the symptoms (tiredness, cuts that don't stop bleeding etc) you will check out from infection or internal bleeding in a few weeks at most.

    Lady Eowyn
    Community Member
    2 months ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    A lot of people survive after showing symptoms.

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    #18

    Nurse measuring blood pressure of woman in clinic, highlighting terrifying medical conditions without showing symptoms. H**h blood pressure can have absolutely no signs, especially in women.

    Gloomy_Werewolf_2319 , CDC Report

    Serena Myers
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why especially in women? That's me off down another rabbit hole. Ah, "Before menopause, due to protective female hormones, and after menopause, their symptoms can be mistaken for menopause or stress-related issues. Additionally, gender biases in medicine may contribute to high blood pressure being overlooked in women" Why am I not surprised!

    KatWitch57
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Purchase your own blood pressure monitor, they're not expensive, and take a reading once a week.

    otiose
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No signs, but don't they take your blood pressure every time you go to the doctor? Wouldn't a consistent high blood pressure reading be a sign of high blood pressure, even in women?

    Savannah greenleaf
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not everyone receives proper routine/preventative care either from lack of access, insurance, or other various reasons.

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    Hugo
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's strange: 'high' in comments doesn't seem to be censored, only in original posts. Could it be Reddit that's doing it?

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    #19

    Person wearing a peach shirt gently touching a red rash on their inner forearm, illustrating terrifying medical conditions. It wasn't instant, but my cousin died from lupus. She had not had any noticeable symptoms.

    One day when she was fourteen her family (from central Ohio) took a trip out West. After returning her kidneys shut down and she was gone two days after that.

    EvilSnack , freepik Report

    Big Chungus
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a friend that died from a thyroid storm (graves disease) in which it was my understanding they didn't know she had this issue. Died suddenly, miss her

    Not a medical condition in the traditional sense, but perhaps the most perfect and terrifying answer to the question is carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Produced by the incomplete burning of fuels, CO is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is a true silent k****r that can incapacitate and k**l you before you are even aware that you are being poisoned.

    The danger of CO lies in how it interacts with the body. When inhaled, it binds to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells 200-300 times more effectively than oxygen does. This means it rapidly displaces oxygen in your bloodstream, effectively suffocating your vital organs, including your brain and heart.

    The initial symptoms, if any, are often vague and flu-like (headache, nausea, dizziness), leading people to simply go to sleep, never to wake up. The CDC states that more than 400 Americans perish from unintentional CO poisoning each year, making it a critical, preventable threat.

    Do you know of any other quiet conditions that people need to know about? Share your knowledge in the comments!

    #20

    Woman speaking on smartphone while driving a car, highlighting terrifying medical conditions that show no symptoms. Texting while driving.

    Edward_the_Dog Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nothing you have to say is worth someone else's life.

    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The current road safety ad on one of the highways into Melbourne is 'Don't let your next text be your last'.

    otiose
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love the picture where she is definitely NOT texting OR driving! (Unless it's speech to text)

    #21

    Young man drinking coffee while reading about terrifying medical conditions that can end without showing symptoms at home. H**h cholesterol, it's all good until you have a heart attack or a stoke.

    NurseDiz , freepik Report

    #22

    Doctor using stethoscope to check elderly man's heart, highlighting terrifying medical conditions without symptoms. Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). Or ARVC.

    badamache , zinkevych Report

    KrazyChiMama
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is an uncontrolled heart rhythm that leads to heart muscle damage. It’s often found in older people who haven’t seen a doctor in many years.

    #23

    Person lying down holding hands with a supportive companion, highlighting terrifying medical conditions without symptoms. My epilepsy thankfully has symptoms that I recognize but f**k it feels like an aneurysm and dementia at the same time. If the grand mal doesn't k**l me then the choking from throw up or walking into traffic from the petit mal confusion will. Type shi.

    PPooPooPlatter , freepik Report

    jasper
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm so sorry. That s***s. Do you have a therapy dog? I know someone with the same issues that has a dog that lets them know when a seizure is coming. Life saver, that dog.

    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Before my older brother was diagnosed with epilepsy, he didn't have typical symptoms, so my mum had no idea what was happening. He was about 12 months old and he just seemed to be startling awake, especially if he was moved from a light room into a dark one or vice versa. It was months before his symptoms became more recognisable and he was diagnosed. There's no way to know how much brain damage could have occurred from those early seizures.

    #24

    Middle-aged woman sitting on a couch clutching her chest, illustrating terrifying medical conditions without symptoms. Lymphocytic myocarditis. It is when white blood cells infiltrate the tissue of the heart.

    It took my sister last September. She was perfectly fine the night before, and then passed entirely unexpectedly the morning of.

    fantailedtomb , user25451090 Report

    KrazyChiMama
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is a rather rare autoimmune disease

    #25

    Two basketball players competing intensely on the court, highlighting risks of terrifying medical conditions without symptoms. Marfan syndrome, a generic disorder that affects collagen elasticity (one of a few), sometimes known as "tall, skinny kid disease". Ever heard of young, healthy, athletic basketball players just dropping dead on the court? If the heart expands too much, the inner lining can tear, allowing blood to seep into the layers of muscle fiber... the heart literally beats itself apart (aortic dissection). There's really no way to save you.

    keelanstuart Report

    KrazyChiMama
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lady I think you’re confusing Marfans with EDS

    Heather Mckeith
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Marfan's is the heart and tall skinny kid disease. I have eds and it is different slightly but both related

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    Lady Eowyn
    Community Member
    2 months ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Except people with marfan usually aren't strong enough to play sports.

    jasper
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not true at all. But there are usually signs that someone has Marfan.

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    #26

    Man in white shirt clutching chest in pain, illustrating terrifying medical conditions with no symptoms. Strokes.
    Was fine last week, drove us to the airport, kept our eldest at hers for the 4 days. Had a great time with him. Thursday, brought us back from the airport. Absolutely fine Saturday when my partner saw her. Fine Sunday according to her neighbour, although she didnt find the time to text my partner back.
    Found her passed away 10am monday morning.

    It's been so out of left field. Even her parents are still alive! (99 and 86)
    Mind boggling. We're distraught.

    Reeleigh , anatoliy_cherkas Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My wife had a stroke when we were on a cruise. Fortunately we weren't at sea or at some faraway tourist site. We were in a major city with a hospital with a world class stoke ward. We got her off the ship and there in less than 90 minutes, and she made a full recovery within a day.

    Roni Stone
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The golden hour. It's longer than an hour, but if treatment begins very soon after, most symptoms may be reversed or greatly lessened.

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    #27

    Young woman sitting on a couch, holding her stomach in pain, illustrating terrifying medical conditions without symptoms. Enlarged spleen. There are some symptoms but most people wouldn’t recognize them. One hit in the wrong place and you are dead. Mine was huge, like the size of two bricks until I had pain from that. And I still just thought it was a muscle or a bad stomach ache one time. Other times it felt like heart burn.

    Unusual_Flounder2073 , yesorno Report

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    #28

    Woman lying in bed covering face appearing unwell, highlighting terrifying medical conditions without symptoms. Prion disease, just trouble sleeping.

    ZumMitte185 , freepik Report

    Roni Stone
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Familial fatal insomnia. One kind of prion disease. And it's neither quick nor silent.

    Tommy DePaul
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can't sleep, at all. About 2 week later you lose your mind and die. Yeah . . . .