Many people often misunderstand this term. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that our body needs to make cells, hormones etc but excess of cholesterol is dangerous for the body. Generally, it shows no symptoms in starting but its danger is still the same. You should monitor your cholesterol level on a regular basis. High cholesterol is often called the silent killer. This fatty substance in your body might be the greatest cause affecting your health. Your regular checkups and balanced diets might make you think that everything is good with your body. However, the biggest threat to your heart health might be present in your body. High cholesterol might be slowly deteriorating your health, but the symptoms don’t really show until it becomes a serious disease.
Here you will get to know about the warning signs that you might be missing out on and the High cholesterol diseases.
What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?
Before delving into the symptoms of high cholesterol, it is important to know what cholesterol is and how it affects your body.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is present in every cell in our body. This lipid is produced in the liver and is also absorbed by the food we eat, i.e., eggs, meat, and cheese. Cholesterol is important for our body as it maintains fluidity and aids digestion.
There are two types of cholesterol: bad (LDL) and good(HDL). It is the low-density lipoprotein, which is bad for your health and is the cause of certain serious health issues.
Here are a few high cholesterol symptoms.
Read these some common high cholesterol symptoms that need urgent medical attention.
- Signs on the skin and eyes:– Yellow, fatty deposits on the skin. Often on the ankles,elbows, and hands. This is called Xanthomas. Yellow, small plaques on the inner corners of the eyelids(Xanthelasma). A whitish ring appearing around the cornea (Corneal Arcus)
- Signs in the legs:- High cholesterol causes plaque to build up in the arteries, thus blocking the blood flow to the legs. Leg cramping and pain in the calves. Restriction in movement and physical activities. Tingling sensation in the legs along with numbness. Swelling and bruises on the legs might also be an indication of high cholesterol in the body.
- Signs of heart issues:- These symptoms of high cholesterol might be severe than the others. Tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and unusual tiredness might be indications that high cholesterol has led to heart disease.
High cholesterol symptoms in females:
High cholesterol in females is very common because they eat leftover food or any oily food any home without noticing its side-effects. These processed foods don’t show any effect in starting but when it starts showing results, it’s already too late. Symptoms of high cholesterol are usually the same irrespective of the gender. Here are a few symptoms that are more commonly found in females that are often overlooked.
- Severe pain:- Most females might experience severe pain in the neck, jaw, and abdomen. The pain might not be directly in the chest, which is why these symptoms are often overlooked.
- Disturbed sleep pattern: Irregular sleep, anxiety, and shortness of breath are a few other symptoms that might indicate underlying heart issues due to high cholesterol. Never ignore these symptoms.
High cholesterol diseases
As mentioned earlier, plaque buildup in the blood due to excess LDL causes atherosclerosis. This is a condition that causes the arteries to harden and restricts blood flow to the other organs. This plaque buildup can lead to serious diseases.
- High Blood Pressure:- Narrowing of arteries causes the heart to pump blood faster and harder. This increases the blood pressure.
- PAD:- Peripheral Arterial Disease affects the limbs, as the restricted blood flow causes numbness and pain. This restricts physical movement and increases the risk of infection in the legs.
- Stroke and CAD:- High cholesterol can seriously affect your heart health. Blockage of the arteries can restrict blood flow to the brain, leading to a stroke. Coronary Artery Disease is the major cause of heart attacks, which is caused by the narrowing of the arteries of the heart muscle.
How to manage high cholesterol?
Here is some good news for you. High cholesterol can be controlled. Follow these simple habits to keep your body protected from this silent killer.
- Keep a sharp eye on your weight. A healthy weight can stop many problems to keep your body safe and healthy.
- Limit intake of fried and processed food as this type of food contains saturated and trans fat.
- Exercise daily for at least half an hour. It maintains the oxygen level in your body.
- Eat food that is good for your heart-health. Prefer fruits, whole grains, vegetables, healthy fats and avoid fried, oily food.
- Limit smoke and alcohol consumption.
- Never skip any medication given by your doctor.
Role of early detection:
High cholesterol shows no symptoms in starting but still, routine screening is important. It can slow or even reverse damage before it’s out of control. Don’t wait for the symptoms because it will only appear when the disease has already progressed. If you don’t control it on time, it can affect your routine life with constant fatigue, regular medication, reduced stamina, poor circulation etc. Moreover, long term treatment can also give your loved ones a lot of financial and emotional stress. So, by keeping an eye on your cholesterol level, you are not only protecting yourself from a big problem but your loved ones will also stay safe.
Conclusion: High cholesterol is rightfully called the silent killer. The symptoms are weak and are often overlooked by us. However, high cholesterol diseases are certainly life-threatening. Regular blood tests should be done to know our cholesterol levels. It may seem harmless but its results can be devastating. It can lead to many life-threatening diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, liver problems etc. Just remember that high cholesterol damages the body over time so choose a healthy lifestyle to protect your overall health before it’s too late.