Subtle changes in your hands that could mean you have high cholesterol and are at risk of a heart attack
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Determining whether cholesterol is dangerously high can be as simple as looking in the mirror.
Doctors say specific types of bumps near the eyes and swelling in the hands and legs can indicate that your cholesterol has reached a level that increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
About 71 million Americans suffer from high cholesterol – when a fatty substance builds up in the arteries, damaging them and restricting blood flow to and from the heart.
Studies estimate that around 40 percent of people with the potentially fatal condition, which is diagnosed through a blood test, do not know they have the condition and thus go untreated.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that can build up and damage the blood vessels that supply the heart. It is found in animal products, such as meat and egg yolks
Saturated fats in the diet, as well as obesity, stimulate cholesterol production in the liver. Normally, the higher the cholesterol level in the blood, the greater the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
It is thought that millions of heart attacks and strokes could be prevented every year if people with high cholesterol are caught and treated with medication.
Experts say there are telltale signs that are easy to spot, but that few people are aware of.
Bumps around the eyes, usually tinged yellow due to the color of the fat under the skin, are a hallmark sign of high cholesterol, as are bumps and swellings in the hands.
These bumps on the face are called xanthelasma and are usually not painful. However, they may indicate that fat is flowing through the bloodstream.
Yellowish bumps on the hands, yellow due to the color of fat deposits, are a characteristic signal that a person has high cholesterol. Yellow bumps around the eyes are not usually painful, but may indicate that fats are building up in your bloodstream
Yet another sign on the face is a thin blue, white or gray circle around the colored part of the eye, the iris. The circle becomes more apparent with age and is most often seen in men.
The third most common sign of fat buildup in the blood is called retinal vein occlusion, which causes a bulging eye. It usually occurs when the fatty clots in the blood vessels break off and obstruct the vein that supplies blood to the retina, causing fat leakage.
Signs are just as noticeable in the hands. Swelling around the knuckles is common, resulting in pain in the tendons. It can occur around any tendon, including the heel.
High cholesterol can also cause tingling in the hands and legs due to limited blood flow to those areas. However, it does not cause numbness. So if you can’t feel your fingers, you’re probably safe.
Cholesterol is produced in the liver and supports crucial body processes, including strengthening the protective membranes around cells, making hormones and digesting food.
Pale nails are another sign to look out for, indicating that oxygen-rich blood flow to the hands is being restricted.
Tingling in the legs may indicate peripheral artery disease, characterized by narrowed peripheral arteries that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
PAD also increases the risk of ulcers, sores that develop on the skin or in the mucous membranes in the body, such as the mouth. It also affects blood flow to the kidneys and stomach.
Doctors recently warned that about 65 million Americans could be at risk of having a fatal stroke or heart attack in middle age due to a specific protein in cholesterol called lipoprotein a.
It is known to be more harmful than other types of LDL because it is made of ‘sticky’ proteins that can cause it to quickly form a clot, disrupting healthy blood flow.