There are three persistent signs of high cholesterol that are vital to keep an eye out for as they could save your life.
High cholesterol can slow or even block the delivery of blood around your body and can result in a stroke or heart problems.
Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels of cholesterol can clog up your arteries, causing less blood to flow through them.
This can then lead to peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition caused by a build-up of fatty deposits such as cholesterol inside your arteries.
This often concentrates in the feet, with the British Heart Foundation explaining: "When the blood flow becomes worse, the body can’t deliver enough blood, nutrients and oxygen to the skin and soft tissues.
"This usually occurs in the feet, as they are furthest from the heart."
Signs of this can include pain, ulcers or gangrene.
According to the BHF, this is known as critical limb ischaemia - and rapid treatment is essential to have a chance of saving the leg.
Other symptoms of PAD can include:
- Hair loss on your legs and feet
- Numbness or weakness in the legs
- Brittle, slow-growing toenails
- Ulcers (open sores) on your feet and legs, which do not heal
- Changing skin colour on your legs, such as turning pale or blue
- Shiny skin
- In men, erectile dysfunction
- The muscles in your legs shrinking (wasting)
There are a number of ways to help reduce your risk, and keeping high cholesterol levels at bay is the best protection against PAD and other cholesterol-related complications, such as a heart attack.
The most important tip is to get a formal diagnosis of high cholesterol from your GP.
A blood test is the most reliable way of determining whether you have high cholesterol due to a lack of general symptoms.
According to the NHS, your GP might suggest having a test if they think your cholesterol level could be high.
There are two ways of having a cholesterol test, either by taking blood from your arm or a finger-prick test.
If you have high cholesterol, a doctor or nurse will talk to you about how you can lower it, which might include things like changing your diet or taking medicine.
Overhauling your diet is usually the most effective way to reduce high cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol charity Heart UK says replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats is a good way to do this.
Saturated fat is the kind of fat found in butter, lard, ghee, fatty meats and cheese, while unsaturated fats, which are liquid at room temperature, include oils from vegetables, nuts and seeds, such as sunflower.
Exercise is also key to cholesterol control and keeping your heart healthy.
According to UK health guidelines, adults should aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity or 75 minutes of intense activity every week. If you can do more that’s even better for you.
Moderate intensity activity means you get your heart rate up and you're breathing harder, but you shouldn't be out of breath.
One way of reaching 150 minutes a week is by being active for 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week.
