High cholesterol narrows the arteries and increases our risk of heart attack and stroke – but it doesn’t usually cause any symptoms until levels are dangerously high.
Unfortunately there are usually no symptoms of high cholesterol – but there are warning signs if levels get dangerously high.
This fatty, wax-like substance is found in the blood, and too much of it can cause serious health problems. Over time, these deposits grow and make it tough for blood to flow through the arteries, with the accumulation sometimes suddenly breaking off and forming a clot, leading to a heart attack or stroke. This build-up can also cause high blood pressure.
High levels of cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease, and as such pharmacist Abbas Kanani, of Chemist Click Online Pharmacy, is keen to spell out the dangers. He said: “Peripheral artery disease (PAD) can occur when plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries, blocking the blood flow that supplies blood to your legs and feet, as well as your kidneys, arms, and stomach.”
The first sign of this condition, which is caused by too much cholesterol, is a “painful ache in the legs when walking, which usually disappears after a few minutes’ rest”.