High cholesterol is very common, but it’s not always easy to know if you’re at risk. Symptoms rarely reveal themselves, but it’s still crucial to get high cholesterol diagnosed early, as it can lead to some deadly consequences.
Cholesterol is a type of waxy substance that’s found in the blood.
It’s used by the body to manufacture new cells – but there can be too much of a good thing.
Large amounts of cholesterol can lead to fatty deposits in the blood vessels.
As these deposits continue to grow, it can make blood flow increasingly difficult, sparking the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
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“A high level of cholesterol in the blood doesn’t have obvious symptoms,” said medical website WebMD.
“But it can increase your risk for conditions that do have symptoms, including angina [chest pain caused by heart disease], high blood pressure, stroke, and other circulatory ailments.
“In men, impotence may be caused by arteries affected by too much blood cholesterol.
“Because unhealthy cholesterol numbers often don’t cause symptoms, especially at first, it’s important to get tested.”
Managing your cholesterol levels could help to prevent these xanthomas from ever developing.
Cutting back on fatty foods is the easiest way to lower your cholesterol.
Instead, try to eat more oily fish, brown rice, nuts, seeds, fruit, and vegetables.
Doing more exercise will also help to protect against high cholesterol.