Symptoms of high cholesterol that you should be aware of

High cholesterol is usually caused by eating unhealthy foods, for example fried foods that contain lots of saturated fat. In addition, obesity and rarely exercising can also trigger an increase in cholesterol which is at risk of heart attack or stroke. However, do you know what symptoms appear when cholesterol is high? How do you know? Check out the explanation of the symptoms of cholesterol below.

When cholesterol is high, are there any symptoms?

Basically, high cholesterol does not cause certain symptoms. This means that you may not realize even though the cholesterol level in the body has exceeded normal limits. You will only find out if you take a cholesterol test. However, you may find that you have high cholesterol when you experience various symptoms of cholesterol complications.

The following are some of the typical symptoms that may arise due to cholesterol complications that you may be experiencing.

1. Easily tired

A very tired body can happen to everyone who has high cholesterol disorders. This condition is one of the symptoms you may experience. The main problem is when the body doesn't actually get enough oxygenated blood flow.

Then, the various organs of the body are forced to metabolize violently, while the heart and blood vessels are in trouble. Not infrequently, the body that is easily tired and not excited is often experienced by people as one of the symptoms that indicates that the person has high cholesterol levels.

2. Muscles get tired easily

Hypertension sufferers who experience high cholesterol can also experience very weak leg muscles, you know. Even so, this condition may also be experienced by people who have high cholesterol levels, even though they do not suffer from hypertension.

This condition may occur as a symptom that arises from high cholesterol, because this may occur when there is a blockage in the arteries. This blockage causes the arteries to not get enough blood flow, causing the leg muscles to become very weak.

3. Chest pain

Chest pain or often referred to as angina is a complication of high cholesterol. This means that when you experience this condition, it could be because cholesterol levels are too high in the blood.

The reason is, high cholesterol levels can cause a buildup of fatty substances in the arteries. The buildup has the potential to cause chest pain, increasing the patient's risk of having a heart attack.

This buildup causes blood flow to the heart to be smooth. If this is the case, the heart does not receive oxygen-containing blood flow as needed. This leads to a symptom of cholesterol complications, namely chest pain or angina.

Angina or pain in the chest may go away on its own. However, the symptoms of this complication of high cholesterol are often mistaken for the effects of fatigue. If left without cholesterol treatment, these cholesterol symptoms can lead to more serious heart disease.

Therefore, it would be better if you contact your doctor if you feel symptoms of this one cholesterol complication. It is better to find out what is the cause of the unusual pain than to treat the cause too late.

4. Feet and hands tingle easily

Symptoms that may arise due to high cholesterol are feet and hands that tingle easily. In fact, sometimes this leg also experiences pain, aches, or an uncomfortable condition even when used to walk or move.

Excess cholesterol levels can cause the arteries that supply blood to the area of your legs to narrow. This causes the blood flow to the tissues of the body to decrease. Therefore, blood flow to several parts of the body is inadequate, one of which occurs in the leg area.

The improper flow of blood causes a condition known as a tingling feeling. In fact, the symptoms of neuropathy that arise due to cholesterol can also occur in the area of your hands. As a result, it is easy for your hands and feet to feel tired or have cramps.

Not only that, this symptom can also cause the legs and hands to become weaker. Likewise, if you have a wound in the area, the wound becomes difficult to heal.

In addition, the skin in the area also becomes paler and doesn't look fresh. Usually, in the elderly, the symptoms that arise due to high cholesterol on this one also often make the feet and hands feel hot and tingling so that they affect their function.

5. Pain in the jaw

According to the American Heart Association, pain in the jaw is one of the symptoms of a heart attack that may occur due to high cholesterol. Therefore, this can be one of the symptoms of high cholesterol that you can be aware of.

Apart from the symptoms of a heart attack, pain in the jaw can also be a symptom of coronary heart disease, a condition that occurs due to high cholesterol levels in the blood. Usually, coronary arteries can be caused by a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries.

Even so, jaw pain is not the only symptom of cholesterol buildup and is usually accompanied by other symptoms. Other symptoms of heart disease that are caused by cholesterol and usually coexist with jaw pain are chest pain, chest pressure, shortness of breath, and stress.

If you experience all of these conditions at the same time or even at the same time, maybe this condition can be a symptom of cholesterol levels that are too high.

6. Xanthoma

Symptoms that may arise due to high cholesterol levels are xanthoma. This condition is quite common in people who have high fat levels. This condition is characterized by a growth of fat just under your skin.

This fat growth can occur in any part of your body, but one of these symptoms is most common in your joints, particularly the knees and elbows. In addition, xanthoma can also occur on the feet, hands, and buttocks.

The size of the xanthoma varies with each appearance. This fat growth can also be small in size but can also be quite large in size. This symptom usually looks like a regular lump that appears under the skin and is painless.

Xanthoma can be a characteristic of people with cholesterol because this condition can occur in people who have high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. If you find a lump that is sometimes itchy, painless and can be yellow or orange in color, get a blood test to find out your cholesterol level right away. It could be, the lump is part of the symptoms of high cholesterol that you are experiencing.

7. Erectile dysfunction

Cholesterol buildup can occur if the cholesterol level in your body is high. This buildup can be one of the causes of erectile dysfunction. The reason is, the buildup of cholesterol creates plaque in the arteries and blocks blood flow.

In addition to being a cause of heart attacks, plaque buildup will also block blood flow to the genital area and penis, causing problems when erection. Therefore, one of the symptoms that may occur in men when they have high cholesterol levels is erectile dysfunction.

The higher the LDL level in the blood, the more likely these symptoms will occur. Thus, in cases that are severe enough, impotence occurs. In addition, when cholesterol levels are high, the body will have difficulty producing the chemicals needed during an erection.

It is important to see a doctor if you experience symptoms of cholesterol complications

Often times, the symptoms of these complications due to high cholesterol are overlooked or misinterpreted as a feature of other health conditions. Therefore, it would be better if you consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of the symptoms or features of high cholesterol as mentioned above.

That way, your doctor can help you determine the cause of your symptoms. If indeed you have high cholesterol levels, your doctor can help you determine the best treatment for treating the condition.

But remember, considering the symptoms you experience are usually symptoms of complications from cholesterol, these symptoms appear after you experience a more severe health condition. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with routine cholesterol tests to determine cholesterol levels in the body.

If the test results indicate high cholesterol levels, the doctor will recommend lifestyle changes to a healthy lifestyle. For example, changing diet by reducing foods high in cholesterol and increasing fiber intake, exercising regularly, managing body weight, and many more.

Your doctor may also suggest using drugs to support a healthy lifestyle that you live in order to manage the symptoms you are experiencing.