Recognizing the signs of high cholesterol

Actually, the signs of high cholesterol depend on the levels of cholesterol in your bloodstream.

Also they are related to the problems caused by excessive cholesterol.

Every single organ of your body covered with blood vessels (especially those medium and small size) will give evidence of high cholesterol signs and symptoms with related diseases or problems.

Thus, the signs and symptoms of high cholesterol are different in different organs depending on the stage of atherosclerosis in their blood vessels.

Atherosclerosis occurs as the result of accumulation of fatty deposits (plaques) on the inner walls of your blood vessels, thus these blood vessels will lose elasticity and become markedly narrowed. Eventually, stagnation of the blood flow will occur and some clots will be formed around the plaques fragments (this process is called thrombosis).

Furthermore, a blood clot (thrombus) move with the blood stream until it blog a blood vessel, causing death of the tissues supplied by it.

Depending on the percentage of narrowing of blood vessels, the area of thrombosis, and the part of the body or organs supplied with the affected blood vessels (aortic, renal, or intestinal); the signs of high cholesterol can be summarized in:

1-Xanthomas

These are yellowish patches appear on the skin and around the eyes indicating high cholesterol level in your blood.

2-Leg pain on doing any exercise (intermittent claudication)

This is a result of narrowing of the peripheral blood vessels of the lower limbs.

2-Cerebro-vascular stroke.

It occurs when a thrombus clog a cerebral blood vessel, causing it to rupture and local hemorrhage will occur. A pressure will be created on this area of the brain.

3-Angina, even heart attacks.

This occurs when the coronary arteries are affected, depriving muscles of the heart from enough oxygen supply.

The proper laboratory diagnosis is very important to prevent or at least minimize the signs of high cholesterol.

A blood sample properly collected after fasting for half a day is enough to measure your blood levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol, HDL “good” cholesterol, TG (triglyceride), and total cholesterol.

As you may understand, recognizing in time the signs of high cholesterol, will prevent these serious events from happening. What is more a proper laboratory diagnosis is very important not only to prevent but also to at least minimize the severity of high cholesterol signs and symptoms.

That’s why it is very important to fast for at least 10 hours before collecting the blood to measure your LDL “bad” cholesterol, HDL “good” cholesterol, TG (triglyceride), total cholesterol and other VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) and IDL (intermediate density lipoprotein) and calculate your risk level.

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