Articles #high blood pressure

In the past two decades of practice, if I were to name one single factor that silently disturbs sleep, weight, mood, digestion, immunity, memory — and often goes unnoticed in our usual investigations — I would say it is this: Cortisol.

In medicine, we are taught that “the patient will tell you the diagnosis if you listen carefully enough.” But over the years, I’ve realised that the body itself speaks — often more clearly than the patient’s words. From the scalp to the soles, every part of you is quietly reporting on your health. My role as a doctor has been to tune in to these messages and interpret them before they become cries for help.

As a physician, I have seen countless patients walk into my clinic thinking their heart is perfectly fine, only to discover that it has been sending warning signals for weeks, months, or even years. The truth is, the heart is a remarkable organ — strong, tireless, and faithful — but it is not indestructible. When trouble begins, it often speaks in whispers, not shouts. These whispers can be subtle, easy to overlook, and tragically, sometimes ignored until it is too late.