High levels of cholesterol in the body can lead to
cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and stroke. High cholesterol
has a lack of symptoms, due to which it is often dubbed a silent killer. A
blood test is required to identify high cholesterol levels.
People usually find excessive weight or body fat as
indicators of high cholesterol. However, there are some warning signs that
might crop up in other parts of your body, such as your legs. The blockage of
the arteries in the extremities is known as peripheral arterial disease or
PAD, and some of the arteries that might be impacted may be supplying blood to
the legs. Therefore, it is advised to not ignore these signs and consult a
doctor if you experience them.
Cold feet and legs
High cholesterol levels can make your feet or legs feel cold
or chilly all around the year, even in summers. This may be an indicator that
you have PAD, though it does not necessarily mean PAD only. However, if you
feel like one leg or foot is cold, but not the other, it could be time to talk
to your doctor.
Skin color alteration
A decrease in the flow of the blood due to high cholesterol
can also change the color of your skin. That's because the cells are not
getting proper nourishment due to decreased flow of blood carrying nutrients
and oxygen. Trying to elevate the legs, for example, can lead the skin to look
pale, but hanging it from a table can cause the skin to seem purple or bluish.
Pain
Leg pain is among the most common symptoms of PAD. When the
arteries of your legs are clogged, a sufficient, required amount of oxygen-rich
blood does not reach your lower part. It can make your leg feel heavy and
tired. Most people with high cholesterol levels complain about burning pain in
the lower limbs. One may feel pain in any part of the leg, from the calf to the
thigh or buttock, and it may be in one or both legs. This happens most often
from taking part in physical activities such as walking, jogging, and stair
climbing. This discomfort is usually gone when you take a rest and may be felt
again when you start moving your legs again.
Cramps during night
Intense leg cramps when sleeping is another common symptom
of high cholesterol levels damaging the arteries of the lower limbs. The
condition gets worse at night while sleeping. People with PAD may have cramps
or spasms when sleeping, most commonly in the heel, forefoot, or toes. Dangling
the foot off the bed or sitting can be the option to get relief from it, which
allows gravity to assist blood flow to the feet.
After one has been diagnosed with high cholesterol one
should make changes in diet and lifestyle manners in order to bring down the
level of the low-density lipoprotein or the bad cholesterol.