This article goes over the meaning of asymptomatic and covers different types ofasymptomatic illnessesand conditions.
Laura Porter / Verywell
What Asymptomatic Means
Asymptomatic means that you aren’t showing any symptoms.
It’s hard to know whether an asymptomatic condition will eventually cause symptoms or not.
Laura Porter / Verywell
In this case, additional testing and medical interventions would not be helpfulin fact, they could be harmful.
However, if you don’t feel sick, you’re less likely to seek care.
What Diseases Are Asymptomatic?
IfCOVID-19 symptomsdo appear, they usually show up between two and 14 days after exposure.
If you develop any symptoms, you should self-isolate until your symptoms improve for 24 hours.
Concerns With Being Asymptomatic
Being symptom-free can be a good thing for obvious reasons.
But it can also delay diagnosis and treatment.
If you have lung cancer, it may take years for you to experience symptoms.
You may be asymptomatic even though the cancer isgrowing and spreading.
The disease may not be detected until its later stages (which is usually the case).
It’s most treatable, however, in stage 1.
How Do I Know if I’m Asymptomatic?
Most insurance plans are required to cover the screenings.
you could even test at home for some conditions, such as COVID-19.
Are Asymptomatic Cancers Overdiagnosed?
Overdiagnosis can have serious consequences and is relatively common for some types of cancers.
What Should You Do if You’re Asymptomatic?
Check in with a healthcare provider to get tested or, if possible, take an at-home test.
Having a definitive answer will let you know what steps to take next.
They let your provider see how well any treatment or lifestyle changes may be working.
Sometimes, an asymptomatic disease is picked up by a screening test.
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