High cholesterol: Sign to not ignore while walking; may require immediate treatment

High cholesterol is often caused by poor lifestyle choices, such as eating a high-fat diet, lack of exercise, smoking and drinking too much alcohol. These lifestyle habits can take a toll on your heart health. Sometimes high cholesterol may show up in no signs whatsoever, and can silently build up in your arteries.

These deposits can reduce blood flow through your arteries, which can cause multiple health issues like chest pain, heart disease, strokes etc. Timely identification of signs of high cholesterol is important and your legs might hold clues.

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There are two types of cholesterol, based on what the lipoprotein (they carry cholesterol through your bloodstream to the cells) carries:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) – It is known as the “bad” cholesterol, as it transports cholesterol particles throughout your body. This bad cholesterol then builds up in the walls of your arteries, making them hard and narrow, thus putting pressure on your heart.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) – This is actually the “good” cholesterol, as it picks up excess cholesterol and takes it back to your liver.

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Our body only needs a small amount of blood cholesterol, which is important for building the structure of cell membranes, making hormones like oestrogen, testosterone as well as adrenal hormones.

Healthy levels of cholesterol also help your metabolism work efficiently and is essential for your body to produce vitamin D.

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High levels of bad cholesterol promotes plaque build-up in your arteries. Plaque is a waxy material made up of cholesterol and other substances. Too much plaque can make your arteries narrow and reduce the blood flow. The buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries is called atherosclerosis.

This restricted blood flow can appear through warning signs in your legs. This can result in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the legs or lower extremities. PAD can happen in any blood vessel, however it is more common in the legs.

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Peripheral arterial disease can trigger pain in your legs, especially when you walk. The pain can range from mild to severe, and can suddenly appear like an ache on standing and walking. It usually goes away a few minutes after resting your legs.

Both legs can be affected at the same time due to poor blood circulation from the heart to the legs, although the pain could be worse in one leg.

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Apart from pain in your leg, signs of peripheral arterial disease can also be seen as:

• Loss of hair from your legs and feet
• Numbness or weakness in your legs
• Brittle and slow-growing toenails
• Ulcers on your feet and legs which do not heal
• Colour of legs turning pale or blue
• The muscles in your legs are shrinking

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Nerve damage due to diabetes can make you lose feeling in your feet. Apart from elevated blood sugar levels, your cholesterol levels can also contribute to diabetic nerve damage. High levels of LDL and/or low levels of HDL can combine with sugars in your blood to change your cell’s behavior.

In this condition, there are hardly any sensation in the feet, due to which you may not notice wounds on your feet which can further develop into ulcers.

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Blood cholesterol is made by your liver and is essential for hormone creation and digesting fatty foods.

While our bodies make all the cholesterol we need, we also get cholesterol from our diet, such as from animal foods.

Cholesterol is carried through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. These are of two types – one of them being LDL (low-density lipoprotein), which is also referred to as “bad” cholesterol.

LDL comprises three subclasses of low-density lipoproteins — A, B, and I. Recent research has found that subclass B is the most damaging and a much better predictor of potential heart attacks than the total measurement of LDL.

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Lack of sleep can affect many aspects of your health, including your cholesterol levels. What’s more, this can vary in men and women.

A large study found that men who slept less than 6 hours on most nights had higher LDL “bad” cholesterol. On the other hand, women who slept the same amount had lower LDL. They also found that men and women who snored during sleep also had lower levels of HDL “good” cholesterol.

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Sometimes peripheral arterial disease symptoms could be a sign of a serious health problem that requires immediate treatment. Therefore, it is important to consult your doctor if you experience pain in your legs while walking, or any other PAD- related sign in the legs, as mentioned above.

Even if you do not experience any signs of high cholesterol, it is advised to get a blood test for regularly checking your cholesterol levels. This is because sometimes you may have high cholesterol and yet experience no symptoms until it is too late.

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Medical conditions that can lead to unhealthy cholesterol levels include chronic kidney disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, hypothyroidism and lupus.

Cholesterol levels can also be worsened by some medications you may be taking for other health problems, such as acne, cancer, high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms and organ transplants.

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Fortunately, there are various practical lifestyle modifications which can help a lot in bringing down your cholesterol levels, since many times it is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle in the first place. Medications prescribed by your doctor can also help in controlling high cholesterol.

Switch to a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Cut out all kinds of processed and packaged foods. Foods high in saturated fat, such as sausages, biscuits, and cheese, should be avoided or eaten in reduced quantities.

Getting exercise daily is also essential for a healthy body and a healthy heart. Quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol, could also help in improving your cholesterol levels.

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Aerobic exercise that involves repetitive movements and works multiple muscle groups is the best exercise to reduce high cholesterol. Here are some of the best exercises you can add to you workout regime, to manage your cholesterol levels:

• Brisk walks or jogging
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Yoga

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Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals that damage your blood vessels and increase your cholesterol levels. This can lead to build up of unhealthy cholesterol in your arteries.

According to the American Heart Association, people who smoke are two-four times more likely to develop heart disease. Smokers are also at a double risk of stroke, compared to those who don’t smoke.

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The Mayo Clinic advises people with high cholesterol levels to switch to healthier lifestyle.

Eating heart-healthy foods that are low in saturated fat and high in healthy fats, regular exercise, quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol consumption can help in minimizing your cholesterol risks.

If you’re already on medications, make sure to take it as prescribed, while making the right lifestyle changes simultaneously.

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