The Silent Risks: Common Conditions That Can Land You in the ICU—and the Screenings That Stop Them
By [DR SS BEHERA], MD ,PDCC,PDF,DM Critical Care Specialist and General Physician
March 18, 2025
In the ICU, I’ve watched patients fight for their lives against conditions that didn’t have to reach that point. As a general physician, I’ve also seen the power of catching those same threats early. The difference? Often, it’s a simple screening—a blood pressure cuff, a finger prick, a quick listen to the lungs. Today, I want to talk about three silent risks—hypertension, diabetes, and chronic respiratory issues—and the preventive health screenings that can keep you out of my ICU.
These conditions don’t announce themselves with sirens. They creep up, masquerading as stress, aging, or “just a cough,” until they erupt into emergencies. The good news? You can spot them long before they spiral, if you know what to look for.
Hypertension: Caught with a Cuff
High blood pressure is a master of disguise. I’ve stabilized patients with brain bleeds or heart failure in the ICU, all because their “mild” hypertension was ignored. One patient—a busy 50-year-old—thought 150/95 mmHg was “normal for his age” until a stroke proved otherwise. Yet, this could’ve been caught years earlier with a $20 blood pressure monitor.
The Screening: A blood pressure check takes 60 seconds. Adults should test at least yearly; more often if you’re over 40, stressed, or have a family history. Normal is under 120/80 mmHg—above that, talk to your doctor. It’s the simplest way to stop a silent killer in its tracks.
Diabetes: A Drop of Blood Tells the Tale
Uncontrolled diabetes is a frequent ICU guest—think diabetic comas, raging infections, or kidney failure. I once treated a woman in her 30s who didn’t know her blood sugar was sky-high until she collapsed. She’d felt tired and thirsty for months but never connected the dots. A single test could’ve changed her story.
The Screening: A fasting blood glucose test or HbA1c (a 3-month sugar snapshot) is all it takes. Start at age 45—or earlier if you’re overweight or have relatives with diabetes. Normal fasting glucose is below 100 mg/dL; HbA1c under 5.7%. Catch it early, and lifestyle tweaks or meds can rewrite the ending.
Chronic Respiratory Issues: Listening to Your Lungs
Asthma and COPD don’t always scream for attention—until they do. I’ve intubated patients whose lung function deteriorated over years, unnoticed until a cold tipped them into respiratory failure. One man, a former smoker, ignored his wheezing for a decade; a basic lung test could’ve flagged it sooner.
The Screening: Spirometry—a simple breathing test—measures lung capacity and catches issues early. If you smoke, have asthma, or get breathless easily, ask your doctor about it. Pair it with a yearly physical where they listen to your chest. Early detection means better management, not a ventilator.
Why Screenings Matter: A View from Both Sides
In the ICU, I see the wreckage of missed opportunities—patients who wish they’d known sooner. In my general practice, I see the victories: a hypertensive caught at 130/85 who never strokes, a prediabetic who dodges insulin with diet, a COPD patient who breathes easier with timely meds. The line between these outcomes? Preventive screenings.
You don’t need fancy tools or medical training. A visit to your doctor, a pharmacy kiosk, or even a home kit can shine a light on these silent risks. Here’s your action plan:
- Blood Pressure: Check yearly (or quarterly if at risk).
- Blood Sugar: Screen at 45, or sooner with risk factors.
- Lung Health: Ask about spirometry if you’ve got symptoms or a smoking history.
The ICU is my workplace, not your destination. These screenings are your shield—use them. Because the quietest risks become the loudest emergencies when we let them slip by.
Dr Behera’s Health Blog 