High cholesterol describes the buildup of a waxy substance called cholesterol in the arteries. But this is just the beginning of the disease, as high cholesterol can cause serious health problems, ranging from heart disease to stroke. One way to spot the culprit is by looking at the nails, according to Monika Wassermann, medical director of Olio Lusso.
“If you didn’t know, high cholesterol causes plaque formation in the blood vessels.
“The plaque then affects the bloodstream, resulting in pale nails.”
According to the NHS, this is not the only sign that can appear on nails.
The health service shares that fragile, slow-growing nails could also indicate high cholesterol levels.
Broken toenails are one of the warning signs associated with a disease called peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
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She said: “Other problems caused by plaque formation include a heart attack, a stroke and numbness.
“If you accidentally detect pale nails or other symptoms mentioned above, seek medical attention as soon as you can.
“Your doctor will do a blood test to help you find out if high cholesterol is affecting you or not.”
Although these signs could indicate high cholesterol levels, the disease rarely causes symptoms.
Called “silent,” high cholesterol can be more reliably detected by a blood test.
How to reduce high cholesterol levels
Fortunately, there are many different measures that can help reduce your levels, ranging from diet to medicine.
For example, the key to a cholesterol-lowering diet is to reduce fatty foods high in saturated fats. You should reduce your intake of offenders such as sausages, cookies and cheeses.
Other useful lifestyle adjustments include exercising, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol.
However, some people may need to start taking a medication called statins to prevent further health problems.