Brits have been warned of the potential red flag signs of a dangerous health condition that many are “completely unaware” they have. It is thought around two out of five adults in the UK are living with high cholesterol, although some may not even realise.
High cholesterol, which is also known as hypercholesterolemia, occurs when you have too much of a fatty substance known as cholesterol in your blood.
If left untreated this can lead to blockages, which can result in medical emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, it’s largely caused by eating fatty foods, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking, and drinking alcohol.
However, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) highlighted the fact that many affected people are “completely unaware” due to the fact it does not typically cause symptoms.
The only way to be completely sure if you have high cholesterol is to get your blood tested. Despite the lack of symptoms, there are certain things to look out for if you think you have high cholesterol.
Firstly you should bear in mind that you are more likely to develop high cholesterol in the first place if:
- You are 40 or over
- You are overweight
- High cholesterol or heart problems run in your family
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On top of this, some warning signs of high cholesterol can actually appear in the feet and legs. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition caused by a build-up of fatty deposits inside your arteries that often concentrate in the feet.
This means that changes to the features of your feet and legs could be a sign of both PAD and high cholesterol. Symptoms of PAD include:
- Pain
- Ulcers
- Gangrene
- Hair loss on your legs and feet
- Numbness or weakness in the legs
- Brittle, slow-growing toenails
- Ulcers (open sores) on your feet and legs, which do not heal
- Changing skin colour on your legs, such as turning pale or blue
- Shiny skin
- In men, erectile dysfunction
- The muscles in your legs shrinking (wasting)
Moreover, some symptoms of high cholesterol can appear in those with a genetically passed down condition known as familial hypercholesterolemia. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) lists these as:
- Tendon xanthomata – swellings made from cholesterol on the knuckles of your hands, your knees or the Achilles tendon at the back of your ankle
- Xanthelasmas – small, yellow lumps of cholesterol near the inner corner of your eye
- Corneal arcus – this is a pale white ring around the coloured part of your eye, your iris
There are several ways you can reduce your chances of high cholesterol. These include:
- Cutting down on fatty foods like meat pies, butter and cakes
- Eat more foods with unsaturated fat, such as salmon, wholegrain bread, fruit and vegetables
- Exercise for at least two and a half hours a week
- Stop smoking
- Cutting down on alcohol
If you experience any of the potential signs listed above or you are concerned about your cholesterol levels you should speak to your GP.
