Not many people realise how important it is to check your fingers and toes regularly. Being aware of what’s normal or not can often help you uncover health problems much sooner.
People can check for early signs of high cholesterol by ensuring they know what subtle changes to their nails they must look out for. It might seem like the last place cholesterol would affect, but it’s one of the few red flags you can spot before things go too far.
Healthy nails should be smooth, pink, and free of ridges, bumps, or dents, so minor changes can be hard to spot. Sometimes, these symptoms are so subtle that they go undetected for a long time.
A key sign that something is wrong with your nails is their colour changing from healthy pink to pale white, yellow or blue. This is because our blood flow gives our nail beds their skin-like colour.
A loss of colour could indicate reduced circulation due to cholesterol blockages. The colour alone might not be the only warning sign.
Your nails might take longer to grow as a result of high cholesterol. Slower nail growth could happen because of poor blood circulation, which in turn affects the delivery of nutrients needed for healthy nail growth
High cholesterol can result in either unusually thick nails or brittle ones that break easily. In rare cases, dark lines, known as splinter haemorrhages, may form under the finger or toenails.
High cholesterol is often described as a ‘silent killer’ as it often does not present any symptoms until it has caused serious damage. Many individuals are unaware that they have high cholesterol until they undergo a blood test.
According to the NHS: “High cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test.” This condition often goes unnoticed since it doesn’t present clear symptoms, yet it can elevate your risk for various health issues.
Anyone can develop high cholesterol and it can be caused by many different things – including some things you cannot control like age and genetics. Most typically, it can be caused as a result of poor diet, smoking and being overweight.
There are various lifestyle changes that people diagnosed with high cholesterol need to undertake to get their bodies back into a safe and healthy range. A doctor will often pair these recommendations with a dose of medication (usually statins).
The NHS recommends that those with high cholesterol cut down on fatty food, especially food that contains a type of fat called saturated fat. You can still have foods that contain a healthier type of fat called unsaturated fat, such as:
- oily fish, like mackerel and salmon
- olive oil, rapeseed oil and spreads made from these oils
- brown rice, wholegrain bread and wholewheat pasta
- nuts and seeds
- fruits and vegetables
Exercise is another great weapon in the fight against high cholesterol. The NHS suggests aiming to do at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of exercise a week such as walking, swimming or cycling. Finding something that you like doing will often make the lifestyle change a little easier. You are more likely to stick with it if you enjoy it.
High cholesterol can significantly increase your risk of severe health issues, including heart attacks and strokes. Many have taken to calling high cholesterol a “silent killer” because of its lack of obvious signs until it becomes too late.
If you are worried about your cholesterol levels, speak with a doctor. They will be able to perform the routine tests and ensure you get the best treatment tailored to your needs.