High cholesterol levels are troublesome as it means there is too much “bad” cholesterol floating in the blood and this puts a person’s life at serious risk. If you experience either of these two warning signs in your hands, you should have your cholesterol levels checked immediately.
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Medicover Hospitals said: “Everyone needs to monitor their cholesterol levels regularly to lower the risk of heart diseases and blockages in the blood vessels.
“High cholesterol levels typically don’t cause any symptoms and in most cases, they only cause emergency events.
“But there are a certain set of physical symptoms of high cholesterol, which indicate levels in the body are high and warn us to follow the guidelines to control it better.
“The warning signs of high cholesterol include pain and tingling in the hands.”
Pain in hands
When there is an accumulation of plaque (fatty deposits) it clogs the arteries, which is called atherosclerosis.
These deposits are made up of cholesterol, fatty substances, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin.
As the cholesterol in the body builds up, it can clog the blood vessels of the hands.
This build-up of cholesterol can occur continuously and make the hands painful.
Tingling in hands
Interruptions in the blood flow to certain parts of the body makes a tingling sensation felt in the hands
The high cholesterol levels in the blood make the blood flow thick and can affect the normal flow of blood in the nerves and cause tingling.
There are a variety of other reasons for the tingling in your hands which include drinking too much alcohol or type 2 diabetes.
It’s important to carefully monitor yourself for any other warning signs of high cholesterol.
Checking your levels
The American Heart Association recommends having your cholesterol levels checked every four to six years if you are a healthy adult over the age of 20.
If you have a family history of high cholesterol, it’s recommended to have it checked more often.
A person may also need more frequent cholesterol checks if they have a family history of heart attacks or strokes.
As high cholesterol does not cause any major symptoms in the early stages, it’s integral for one to make good lifestyle choices by eating a healthy diet, maintaining an exercise routine and regularly monitoring cholesterol levels.
The British Heart Foundation said: “Blood cholesterol levels are measured using a simple blood test.
“Your GP or practice nurse will take a blood sample, usually by pricking your finger or you might be asked to go for a blood test at your local hospital.
“Your blood is then checked for levels of good (HDL) cholesterol, bad (non-HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as getting a total cholesterol result.
“Generally speaking, for a healthy heart the aim is to have a low non-HDL level and a higher HDL level.”
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