High cholesterol levels can lead to a number of health complications, including peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This is a common condition “in which the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries restricts blood supply to the leg muscles.”
And the British Express website warns that a change in the color of the skin on your legs, such as a pale or blue shift, is a possible sign of PAD.
PAD symptoms often develop slowly, over time, and if symptoms develop quickly or suddenly worsen, they may be a sign of a serious problem that requires immediate treatment.
Many people with PAD have no symptoms, however, some develop an excruciating pain in their legs when walking, which usually goes away after a few minutes of rest. The medical term for this is “intermittent claudication.”
Peripheral arterial disease can build up over a lifetime, and symptoms may not become apparent until later in life.
With intermittent claudication, your leg muscles may feel symptoms:
ant
weakness
weight
Knowing that half of people who develop PAD have no symptoms, PAD is usually diagnosed through a physical exam by a GP, and by comparing the blood pressure in your arm and ankle.
Other symptoms of PAD can include:
Hair loss in your legs and feet
Numbness or weakness in the legs
Sores on your feet and legs that don’t heal
Glossy skin
In men, erectile dysfunction
brittle nails
Cramping of the muscles in your legs (wasting).
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) recommends that all adults get their cholesterol checked at any age, even if they feel well, and it should be repeated every five years – or more often if the test is abnormal.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to reduce high cholesterol, and PAD won’t always be a consequence.
Changing what you eat, getting more active, and quitting smoking can help bring your cholesterol back to a healthy level.
The NHS says: ‘To reduce blood cholesterol, try to reduce fatty foods, especially foods that contain a type of fat called saturated fat. You can still eat foods that contain a healthy type of fat called trans fat. Cholesterol-lowering medication if your cholesterol doesn’t go down after changing your diet and lifestyle.
Statins are the most common medication for high cholesterol, and they work by reducing the amount of cholesterol your body produces.
You usually have to continue taking statins for life because if you stop taking them, your cholesterol level will return to a high level within a few weeks.