Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is naturally present in our food and body. Our body requires HDL or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to build healthy cells. However, the presence of high levels of LDL or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol can increase our risk of developing heart disease.
High cholesterol levels usually lead to fatty or cholesterol deposits in our blood vessels rather than being absorbed by our body. As these deposits continue to grow in our blood vessels, the flow of blood through the arteries becomes difficult. Sometimes, these deposits can form clots that travel to our heart or brain and lead to a stroke or a heart attack.
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
Constant pain in legs, arms, and toes- Peripheral arterial disease or PAD is a symptom of cholesterol buildup in our arteries which disrupts the supply of blood to our arms, legs, feet, kidneys, and stomach. PAD leads to cramping of legs and feet, general achiness, constant feeling tired, constant pain in legs, and constant discomfort in legs and feet. Other symptoms of PAD include leg pain that doesn’t go away when the leg is resting, toes that turn blue, leg cramps, thick toenails, and reduced hair growth on your legs. Studies show that people that experience these high cholesterol symptoms are at a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, and limb amputations.
Yellow cholesterol deposits on the palm - Yellow discoloration on the palm indicates that cholesterol is deposited in your hand. Deposits in the arteries of your hand will also lead to pain in the fingers.
Painful fingers- A tingling sensation in the fingers as well as feeling pain when your hand is touched is another sign of elevated cholesterol level.
Chest pain- High cholesterol levels can cause chest pain, especially when cholesterol is deposited in the arteries that supply our heart with blood.
What causes high cholesterol in the body?
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Smoking- Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or consuming tobacco can lower the levels of HDL cholesterol, which is good, and increase the levels of LDL or bad cholesterol.
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Unhealthy diet- A diet that is rich in saturated fats or trans fats can increase our cholesterol levels. Therefore, excessive consumption of processed foods and high-sodium foods should be avoided to prevent high cholesterol.
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Lack of exercise- Exercising helps burn the excess fat stored in our body. Therefore, a lack of exercise or activity that does not adequately convert the food we eat into energy can lead to cholesterol issues.
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Alcohol- Excessively drinking alcohol is another cause of high cholesterol.
How can you prevent high cholesterol?
High cholesterol can be prevented with some heart-healthy lifestyle changes.
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Start managing your stress adequately. If you are experiencing too much stress at work, then try to take up activities and hobbies which can alleviate that stress.
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Either completely stop drinking alcohol or drink in moderation. Alcohol is not good for our bodies and excessive drinking can lead to severe neurological and physiological changes.
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Exercise more frequently. Exercising or playing an active sport is an excellent way of burning the fat stored in our body for energy. If you hate exercising, then try to build your stamina over time rather than putting too much pressure on yourself.
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Like alcohol, smoking is another habit that is completely unnecessary and leads to a barrage of health problems. By quitting smoking you are not just preventing high cholesterol but are also reducing your risk of developing lung, throat, and mouth cancer.
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Losing weight and maintaining a healthy body weight prevent you from having high cholesterol.
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Limit the amount of animal fat and saturated fats in your diet. Consume fatty acids that are good for your body in moderation.
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Reduce the sodium content in your diet and emphasize eating fresh fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains.
