High cholesterol, officially known as hypercholesterolaemia, doesn’t usually trigger any symptoms on its own, but it can cause narrowing of the arteries around your body. Depending on where this happens, it can cause a range of major medical issues, from heart attacks to strokes and general blood clots.
However, some people may be able to spot the condition before it’s too late. Experts at the British Heart Foundation pinpointed the only three “visible” signs of high cholesterol, which usually appear in people with a family history of hypercholesterolaemia.
This includes tendon xanthomata. In simple terms, the cholesterol build-up in your body can make certain areas start to swell. It can affect the Achilles tendon at the back of your ankle.
It can also form yellowish bumps or nodules in or around the tendon that may be visible from the outside. Known as xanthomatas, these skin lesions are rich in cholesterol, which is why they tend to be yellow in colour.
You can also get tendon xanthomata on the knuckles of your hands and your knees. While the main cause of these yellow lesions is high cholesterol, it can also indicate other conditions like Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis, a rare inherited disorder.
Small yellow lesions similar to xanthomata can also appear around the inner corner of your eye. This is called xanthelasmas and is also one of the few visible signs of high cholesterol.
Corneal Arcus can also affect the eye, causing a pale white ring to surround the iris, the coloured part of the eye. It sometimes appears just due to the normal ageing process, but in younger people, it’s usually a sign of high cholesterol.
If you suspect you may have high cholesterol, it’s best to get tested by your GP. This is the only way to confirm you have the condition before it causes life-threatening events.
People with familial hypercholesterolaemia can have very high cholesterol levels even if they don’t have the risk factors or signs, like a bad diet or sedentary lifestyle. This is because of faulty genes that impact how the body processes cholesterol.
There isn’t a singular ‘cure’ for high cholesterol, but a combination of treatments is available to easily manage the condition. If it’s left untreated, though, BHF experts warned: “It can lead to heart attack and stroke.
“It’s often a hidden risk factor, which means it can happen without us knowing until it’s too late. That is why it’s so important to get your cholesterol level checked.”
Certain lifestyle changes can be easy ways to cut down your cholesterol, such as being more active, cutting down on alcohol, stopping smoking and having a balanced diet. If these changes aren’t enough to bring down your levels, you may be prescribed medication like statins.