High cholesterol: Nutritionist reveals top prevention tips
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High cholesterol, which is generally associated with dietary saturated fat, is characterised by the presence of fatty deposits in the arteries that contribute to the formation of plaque. The silent killer rarely produces blatant symptoms, so it’s imperative to be on the lookout for subtle signs. The appearance of leg hair may reflect high levels of cholesterol in the blood.
Since high cholesterol predisposes individuals to a host of life-threatening conditions, prompt treatment is of is the utmost importance.
Some signs in the appearance of your hair, notably sparse-looking leg hair, could signal levels of the condition are dangerously high.
High cholesterol is one of the main risk factors of peripheral artery disease.
The NHS explains: “Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common condition where the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries restricts blood supply to leg muscles.
READ MORE: High cholesterol: The sign in your breath indicating your levels are dangerously high
“Symptoms of PAD can include hair loss on your legs and feet, numbness or weakness in the legs, and slow-growing nails.”
The condition is typically caused by atherosclerosis, which refers to the accumulation of cholesterol-filled plaque in the arteries and is potentially fatal.
As these fatty deposits build up in the arteries, blood flow to certain parts of the body becomes limited, causing complications in the legs.
While the condition itself isn’t considered deadly, it could be a sign there are blockages in the body that could cause a deadly attack.
Partick J Skerrett, the former executive editor at Harvard Health, explained: “Prevention is important because PAD can cause widespread damage, limit activity and sometimes lead to death.”
Signs of poor blood flow may include loss of leg hair, which in extreme cases, could lead to foot or leg amputation.
In one 2018 open paper published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore showed that diets high in cholesterol-laden foods had a direct impact on the appearance of hair.
They established that high cholesterol leads to inflammation of the skin, which in turn affects hair loss and hair whitening.
Doctor Reena L Pande, explained: “Unfortunately, many people, and that includes doctors, aren’t aware of peripheral artery disease, or they attribute its symptoms to something else, like arthritis or getting older.”
In fact, only about a third of those with PAD are thought to produce noticeable symptoms.
Another third of patients report other vague symptoms such as loss of strength and low movement ability.
The remainders report having clear symptoms such as leg pain, sores that don’t heal, and coldness in the legs or foot.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to correct high cholesterol levels.
The recent development of a revolutionary jab could help treat the condition, bringing hope to millions.
Experts, who have dubbed the drug a game-changer, say it could prevent 55,000 heart attacks and stroke in a decade.
Avoiding saturated fat and processed foods, such as butter, cheese, cream and biscuits, is also imperative.
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