High cholesterol is mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. There are no obvious symptoms you may be suffering with high cholesterol - a blood test is the only definitive way to know where your levels are.
High cholesterol goes undetected until it affects the human body to such an extent that it is difficult to get back to normal health, reports The Mirror.
Doctors advise to have a regular health check-up so that this silent killer can be detected early and can be managed before it causes any harm.
And according to Dr Sami Firoozi, consultant cardiologist at the Harley Street Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK, brittle or slow-growing toenails can be a tell-tale sign of high cholesterol.
One of the key signs is brittle toenails, the second is slow-growing toenails.
These two signs are caused by high cholesterol levels in the blood, which can cause peripheral aerial disease (PAD).
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) refers to diseases of the blood vessels located outside the heart and brain.
The NHS said: "Many people with PAD have no symptoms. However, some develop a painful ache in their legs when they walk, which usually disappears after a few minutes' rest.
"You should see a GP if you experience recurring leg pain when exercising."
