cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by your liver that performs many important functions in the body, like helping your metabolism work efficiently. Although your body needs cholesterol to function, having too much can restrict blood supply to important organs. Over time, this can increase the risk of heart disease.
When high cholesterol levels restrict the blood supply to the legs, it is known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
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Many people with PAD have no symptoms.
«However, some develop painful leg discomfort when walking, which usually goes away after a few minutes of rest,» notes the NHS.
According to the health agency, Another telltale sign is slow-growing, brittle toenails.
Other telltale signs include:
- Hair loss on legs and feet.
- numbness or weakness in the legs
- Ulcers (open sores) on your feet and legs that do not heal
- Change the color of the skin on the legs, such as turning pale or blue
- shiny skin
- In men, erectile dysfunction
- The leg muscles shrink (become weak).
How high cholesterol is diagnosed
To prevent high cholesterol from causing complications like PAD, getting a formal diagnosis is vital.
You can only find out if you have it through a blood test.
«Your GP might suggest a test if you think your cholesterol level might be high,» explains the NHS.
«This may be due to your age, weight, or another condition you have (such as high blood pressure or diabetes).»
How to lower high cholesterol
There are two important pills for cholesterol control: diet and exercise.
A few small changes in your diet can make a big difference in your cholesterol level.
«To help lower cholesterol, you don’t need to completely avoid fat. You need to cut back on foods that are high in saturated fat and replace them with foods that are high in unsaturated fats like vegetable oils (olive, canola, and sunflower), nuts, seeds, avocado and oily fish,» advises the UK Dietitians Association.
Saturated fats are found in many foods, both sweet and salty. Most of them come from animal sources, including meat and dairy products.
In addition to improving your diet, regular exercise can improve your cholesterol levels.
According to Mayo ClinicModerate physical activity can help raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the «good» cholesterol.
HDL cholesterol works by removing LDL cholesterol, the «bad» cholesterol, from the blood.
According to UK guidelines, adults they should try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
If you can do more, that’s even better.
«One way to reach 150 minutes a week is to be active for 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week,» notes the cholesterol charity HeartUK.
Moderate-intensity activity means you get your heart rate up and you breathe harder, but you shouldn’t get out of breath. Walking, jogging, swimming, biking, and dancing are all good options.