High cholesterol levels can cause stiffness and pain in the joints, especially in the hands, wrists, and feet
A large number of Indians are affected by high cholesterol levels, and according to data, around 31 per cent of Indians struggle with HDL, or bad cholesterol levels—a significant risk factor for heart diseases, including heart attack and stroke.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the blood that your body needs for building healthy cells. However, high levels of cholesterol can raise the risk of heart disease as well. While it can be inherited as cholesterol can pass from parents to children through genes, high cholesterol often is the result of lifestyle choices like not getting enough exercise, not eating a balanced diet, or consuming large amounts of saturated fat.
You can make changes to help prevent it, and if you have high cholesterol, you can help lower it with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and sometimes medicine. However, there are a few visible signs and symptoms to watch out for, as most people do not even realise their cholesterol is elevated because it usually does not cause any symptoms until serious problems occur.
Yellow deposits around the eyes
If your cholesterol levels are extremely high, you will notice yellow deposits, or xanthelasma - soft, yellowish growths that appear on or around the eyelids. They are composed of cholesterol and fat and can be soft, chalky, or semi-solid.
While xanthelasma can be removed through laser surgery and chemical peels, they will always come back if the cholesterol levels do not go down.
Achy joints
High cholesterol levels can cause stiffness and pain in the joints, especially in the hands, wrists, and feet. According to experts, inflammation is mostly triggered due to reduced blood flow and damage to blood vessels, potentially impacting joint health over time.
It also contributes to gout, a painful condition that affects your joints.
Severe stomachache
Even though stomach pain is not a main or direct symptom of high cholesterol, it can be associated with it, particularly in severe cases. High cholesterol causes issues with the liver, gallbladder, and digestive system—causing pain, bloating, indigestion, or even nausea. Also, doctors say peripheral arterial disease, or PAD - a condition linked to high cholesterol—affects blood flow to the stomach, potentially leading to pain.
Constant fatigue
If you have been feeling tired all the time, it is time to get your cholesterol levels checked. High cholesterol could slow you down due to clogged arteries. According to doctors, low blood flow to your heart and muscles stops oxygen-rich blood, which is needed.
It then results in chronic fatigue, which can even make you sleepless.
Grey rings in your eyes
Arcus senilis is a whitish, bluish, or greyish ring around the cornea - the clear front part of the eye, which is a sign of high cholesterol, especially if it appears in younger people. Doctors say even though it is often a normal part of ageing - the condition also indicates underlying health conditions, including very high cholesterol.
