Medical professional identifies symptoms indicative of high cholesterol levels
High Cholesterol: Silent Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease
High cholesterol levels can be a silent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, as it may not always present with obvious symptoms. According to Dr. Julia Marshintseva, regular cholesterol level monitoring is crucial for maintaining heart and vessel health.
While chest pain and leg numbness during walking can be insidious symptoms related to high cholesterol, they are not always present. High cholesterol contributes to atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaques in arteries, which can narrow and harden them. This plaque buildup reduces blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues, potentially causing chest pain (angina) and leg numbness or pain during walking (claudication).
Chest pain, especially during exertion, can be a result of narrowed vessels due to cholesterol plaques. Similarly, peripheral artery disease caused by arterial plaque can reduce blood flow to the legs, leading to symptoms like numbness, pain, or cramping during walking. These symptoms are considered "insidious" because cholesterol buildup and artery narrowing develop gradually over years without obvious signs until significant blockage causes symptoms or severe events like heart attack.
Xanthomas, light deposits under the skin, are a noticeable manifestation of high cholesterol. They resemble small balls and are most commonly found around the eyes, on elbows, and joints. However, a person can have high cholesterol levels without visible skin deposits or symptoms.
Risk factors for high cholesterol include heredity, poor diet, and sedentary lifestyle. Dr. Marshintseva also mentioned a vegetable that lowers cholesterol levels, as previously reported by "Live Kuban". Persistent or exertion-related chest pain and leg discomfort should prompt evaluation for underlying high cholesterol and vascular disease to prevent complications.
Early detection and management of cholesterol levels are key to reducing these risks. In summary, the presence of chest pain and leg numbness during walking indicates possible arterial narrowing due to high cholesterol-induced plaque buildup, signaling dangerous cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease progression.
