The "silent" symptom of dangerously high cholesterol that shows up in your toes

Cholesterol is a substance found in the blood that, at adequate levels, is necessary for vital functions of the body, such as the formation of healthy cells.. However, with high cholesterol, more lipids than necessary are produced, and these begin to form fatty deposits in the blood vessels.. Over time, these deposits grow and make it difficult for blood to flow through the arteries.. They can even form clots, causing heart attacks or strokes.. Thus, it is known that having a cholesterol level above 240 mg/dl doubles the risk of suffering a heart attack.

In Spain, hypercholesterolemia is a problem: in fact, half the population has high cholesterol, according to the Spanish Society of Cardiology. That is why they encourage periodic analysis, take greater control of our levels, follow a balanced diet, without saturated fats and rich in vegetables, legumes, cereals, vegetables and fruits; and practice moderate aerobic exercise. Likewise, we must know the signs that alert us that we may have high cholesterol levels.

Although there is an obstacle to this: high cholesterol is often described as a “silent killer” because it does not manifest itself with visible signs. Patients can usually only tell after undergoing a blood test. However, Dr. Sami Firoozi, consultant cardiologist at the Harley Street Clinic, recently explained in a Huffington Post article that there is a curious and unknown symptom of high cholesterol that can appear in the toes.

Woman stretching Freepik

Specifically, it is the presence of brittle or slow-growing nails. This sign of high cholesterol has its scientific explanation. And it is that, as explained by the British Heart Foundation, “when blood flow worsens, the body cannot supply enough blood, nutrients and oxygen to the skin and soft tissues. This usually occurs in the feet, as they are furthest away from the heart.”

Three other signs of high cholesterol to look out for are:

• Tendon xanthomata, which is swelling of the knuckles, knees, and the back of the ankles.
• Xanthelasmas, which are small yellow cholesterol bumps near the inner corner of the eye.
• Xanthelasmas on the corneal arch, which is a pale ring that can appear around the iris.

Loss of hair on legs and feet, numbness, tiredness or wasting on the legs; open sores on the feet and legs that do not heal may also be indicative. In addition, having high cholesterol can start by giving signs through the extremities such as: pain in the feet, changes in the color of the legs (pale or bluish) or even gangrene, in the worst case.. Also, in the case of men it can cause erectile dysfunction.

Risk factors that lead to the appearance of high cholesterol are poor diet (eating too much saturated fat or trans fat), obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol or age (over 40 years).. As a person ages, the liver is less and less able to remove LDL cholesterol.

There are foods that can help reduce cholesterol, such as oats, fish and Omega-3 fatty acids; walnuts, almonds and dried fruits; or olive oil. In any case, if you perceive any symptoms of high cholesterol, consult with a medical specialist the steps to follow after diagnosis.