It is known that high levels of cholesterol in the blood lead to problems in the blood vessels in the long term, as it leads to atherosclerosis and later to death.For heart attacks and strokes.
The accumulation of cholesterol in the blood may lead to clogged arteries, which hinders the proper flow of blood to the body’s organs. This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, which causes 17 million deaths worldwide annually, according to World Health Organization statistics.
What is worrying is that high cholesterol is often not accompanied by any obvious symptoms, which leads to delayed detection. As a result, many cases of high cholesterol may go unnoticed until a medical emergency related to it occurs, or it is detected during periodic examinations conducted by a doctor.
The British National Health Service (NHS) confirms this silent nature of high cholesterol by saying, “High cholesterol usually does not cause symptoms, and you cannot know if you have it except through a blood test.”
However, there are some specific signs that may cause concern that may indicate high cholesterol and can be detected early, potentially saving a life. One of these signs is the onset of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).
Peripheral arterial disease
According to the American Heart Association, peripheral arterial disease is a condition that results from narrowing of the peripheral arteries that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body. Lower extremity peripheral arteropathy is the most common type, in which blood flow to the legs and feet is reduced. .
Symptoms of peripheral arterial disease develop slowly over time. If symptoms develop quickly or worsen suddenly, it may be a sign of a serious problem that requires immediate treatment.
Here are some symptoms that indicate you need to see a doctor:
- Intermittent claudication: This is considered the most common symptom of peripheral arterial disease, as you may suffer from spasm, pain, or discomfort in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs. The severity of this pain can vary from mild to severe, but it disappears after about 10 minutes. Minutes of rest, and comes back when walking again. Usually both legs may be affected at the same time, although the pain may be more severe in one leg.
Feeling a noticeable decrease in the temperature of the lower part of your leg or foot compared to the other leg or the rest of the body. - Poor nail growth on the toes or poor hair growth on the legs.
- Feeling numb or weak in the legs.
- Change in skin color in the legs, such as becoming paler than usual or blue, or the skin becoming shiny.
- Wounds on the feet or toes that do not heal or that heal very slowly.
- Leg muscle atrophy.
- Erectile dysfunction, especially in men with diabetes.
Ways to lower blood cholesterol
Here are some tips to help you keep your blood cholesterol low, according to the recommendations of the British National Health Service:
1- Eat smaller amounts of fatty foods
To reduce your cholesterol, try to limit your intake of fatty foods, especially foods containing saturated fat. It is good that you can still eat foods that contain trans fats.
Try to eat more of these types of foods: oily fish such as salmon, brown rice, whole grain breads, whole wheat pasta, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.
Try to eat these foods in smaller quantities: meat pies, sausages, fatty meats, butter, lard, ghee, cream, hard cheeses such as cheddar, cakes and biscuits, as well as foods containing coconut or palm oil.
2- Do more physical activities
Set a goal to exercise at least 150 minutes per week.
Try different exercises to find something you love to do. You’re more likely to keep doing it if you enjoy it.
3- Stop smoking
Smoking can raise your cholesterol and make you more susceptible to serious problems such as heart attacks, strokes and cancer.