The symptoms of high cholesterol may be subtle at first, but they carry important signals that should not be ignored.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty (waxy) substance found naturally in all cells of the body. It is an important element for building cells, and is involved in the production of some important hormones (such as adrenal gland hormones and sex hormones). Most of it is produced by the liver, while another part comes from food, especially animal fats in red meat, eggs, and full-fat dairy products.
Types of cholesterol
Cholesterol is divided into two basic types according to the way it is transported in the blood by binding to proteins called “lipoproteins”.
Low-density cholesterol (LDL)
It is also known as harmful cholesterol, and it consists of low-density lipoproteins (K), which carry cholesterol and saturated fats that are difficult for the body to metabolize. It is called harmful because it carries cholesterol from the liver to the body’s cells, and if its quantity increases, it begins to accumulate and deposit within the walls of the arteries.
High-density cholesterol (HDL)
Or what is called beneficial cholesterol, in which cholesterol is bound to high-density lipoproteins. It is called beneficial because it works to clean the blood of excess cholesterol and returns it to the liver for the body to get rid of it.
What is harmful cholesterol?
It is a type of cholesterol, scientifically known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL). It is called harmful because it carries cholesterol from the liver and transports it to the body’s cells. If its quantity increases, it begins to accumulate on the walls of the arteries, forming fatty deposits with calcium and cell debris known as “plaques,” which narrow the arteries and limit blood flow.
Its harms are caused by:
- Atherosclerosis due to plaques.
- Increases the risk of blood clots.
- It may lead to heart and stroke.
- Contributes to high blood pressure.
Read also: Atherosclerosis Causes, symptoms and treatment
What are the symptoms of cholesterol?
The symptoms of cholesterol are often indirect and subtle, and do not appear clearly until the situation inside the body worsens. Unlike some diseases that show severe and clear symptoms of their own, cholesterol gradually deposits in the walls of the arteries without causing direct pain or signs at first.
But as time passes, some signs begin to appear, such as numbness in the extremities and rapid fatigue. Here are some of the symptoms that a high cholesterol patient feels:
- Feeling chest pain
One of the symptoms of cholesterol is feeling pressure or pain in the chest, due to narrowing of the arteries leading to the heart.
- Numbness or coldness in the extremities
Feeling numbness in the extremities, such as one of the feet or hands, due to poor blood circulation.
- High blood pressure
Narrowed arteries force the heart to pump blood more forcefully, which increases the burden on the heart and leads to chronic high blood pressure.
- Yellow greasy spots on the skin (Xanthomas).
These spots appear as a result of fatty deposits that accumulate under the skin, especially in advanced or hereditary cases. They appear in the form of bumps or yellow spots on the skin with a soft or rubbery texture, and are usually painless.
These spots usually appear around the eyes, over the tendons in the Achilles or tendon, on the elbows and knees, or on the palms or feet.
- Yellowing around the cornea (Arcus senilis).
A gray or white ring appears around the cornea (the colored part of the eye). The incidence of this symptom increases with age or high cholesterol.
- Sudden clots or stroke.
If high cholesterol is left untreated for a long time, it can harden and narrow the arteries and limit blood flow to the organs and brain.
What are the symptoms of cholesterol in women?
Women with high cholesterol experience the same general cholesterol symptoms mentioned above, but some cholesterol symptoms may be slightly different in women, for example:
Symptoms of unconventional heart disease
Women do not often feel acute chest pain like men do when complications of high cholesterol occur, such as hardening and narrowing of the arteries, or the occurrence of clots. Rather, symptoms appear in a subtle and inconspicuous manner, such as:
- Extreme fatigue
- Feeling nauseous and vomiting
- Difficulty digesting
- Jaw, neck, or shoulder pain
- Sleep disturbance and anxiety for no real reason
Effect of hormones
At fertile age - that is, before menopause - women are less susceptible to high cholesterol, as the hormone estrogen raises the good high-density cholesterol (HDL) and lowers the harmful low-density cholesterol (LDL), while estrogen decreases after menopause, which raises the risks of high harmful cholesterol and its complications more clearly.
Problems causing high cholesterol
Cholesterol does not rise in women only due to unhealthy eating. Their bodies may suffer from hormonal or metabolic problems (such as insulin resistance or thyroid gland sluggishness), which affect the way fats are processed, and increase the risk of harmful cholesterol accumulation in the blood.
Impact on fertility in women
High cholesterol in women causes an imbalance in sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which helps in the occurrence of an imbalance in ovulation, which in turn may lead to an irregular menstrual cycle, and may lead to the cessation of ovulation.
High cholesterol also affects the uterine lining, and may cause chronic inflammation, or weaken its ability to carry a fertilized egg.
Women with high cholesterol often have a greater risk of polycystic ovaries, which worsens ovulatory dysfunction.
What are the symptoms of cholesterol in men?
Symptoms of high cholesterol may differ between men and women, not only in form but also in the timing and severity of their appearance, such as:
Obvious pain in the chest when angina occurs
This pain appears during effort or stress, and is one of the most prominent and common symptoms of cholesterol in men, and is a pressing pain in the middle of the chest.
The effect of high cholesterol on fertility in men
Many people wonder about the effect of high cholesterol on fertility in men, and the answer to this is yes. Fertility in men is actually affected by high cholesterol due to several factors:
- Sperm quality: High cholesterol reduces the number of sperm, affects their movement, and changes their shape, which impairs their ability to fertilize the egg.
- Effect on testosterone: Testosterone production may be weakened as a result of high cholesterol, which is the primary hormone in sperm production and desire in men.
- Erectile dysfunction: High cholesterol causes narrowing of the arteries supplying the reproductive organs, which in turn affects the strength and duration of erection.
Book your consultation now at مركز أمراض الجهاز الهضمي At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.
Table of cholesterol levels in the blood
| Type of cholesterol | The ideal ratio | Average ratio | The high percentage |
| Total cholesterol | Less than 200 mg/dL | 200 – 239 mg/dL | More than 240 mg/dL |
| Bad cholesterol (LDL) | Less than 100 mg/dL | 100 – 129 mg/dL | 130 mg/dL or more |
| Good cholesterol (HDL) | 60 mg/dL
Or more |
59 – 40 mg/dL | Less than 40 mg/dL |
| Triglycerides | Less than 150 mg/dL | 150 – 199 mg/dL | 200 mg/dL or more |
What food causes high cholesterol?
Foods that may cause an increase in the level of harmful cholesterol in the blood include:
Trans fats
They are made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oils to transform them from a liquid to a solid state in a process called “partial hydrogenation.” These fats are found abundantly in:
- Commercial fried foods, such as French fries, donuts.
- Manufactured baked goods, such as: biscuits, cakes, industrial croissants, and ready-made pies.
- Hard margarine (artificial margarine).
Animal fats
Before we mention examples of foods containing animal fats, it must be known that not all fats are harmful. Unsaturated fats such as (olive oil, avocado, fish oil such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and canola oil) are beneficial fats and help reduce harmful cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.
Harmful animal fats are found in:
- Fatty red meat: such as lamb and beef.
- Poultry skin.
- Butter and ghee.
Full-fat dairy products
These fats are abundant in whole milk and its products, such as cheese, cream, and cream.
Refined carbohydrates and sugars
The proportion of these substances increases in:
- Bread and products made from white flour such as pastries and sweets.
- المشروبات الغازية والعصائر المحلاة.
Processed meat
مثل:
- Sausages and sausages.
- Luncheon, pastrami, artificial burger.
Learn about: الذبحة الصدرية Causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment methods
Frequently asked questions
How do I lower cholesterol quickly?
To lower cholesterol quickly, you must avoid saturated fats such as butter and fried foods, and eat a lot of foods rich in fiber, such as oats, legumes, and fruits. It is also recommended to use olive oil and raw nuts instead of harmful fats, while reducing sugars and white starches.
How do I know if I have cholesterol?
You cannot rely solely on cholesterol symptoms to know if you suffer from high cholesterol, because they are not clear and do not become clear until it causes serious problems such as clots or heart disease.
The sure way to diagnose it is to perform a comprehensive blood lipid profile, which is a simple laboratory test that measures total cholesterol, low-density or harmful cholesterol (LDL), high-density or beneficial cholesterol (HDL), and triglycerides.
For more details and to book a consultation at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, click here.
What is the drink that eliminates cholesterol?
Some drinks help lower harmful cholesterol (LDL) and improve heart health when consumed regularly. They include:
- Oat drink: Rich in fiber (beta glucan), it works to reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. It is recommended to drink it on an empty stomach.
- Lemon and warm water: improves arterial health, reduces inflammation, and cleanses the body of toxins, thanks to it containing Vitamin C.
- Boiled ginger: helps improve blood circulation and reduce the absorption of harmful fats.
- Green tea: It reduces total cholesterol and triglycerides, and also contains “catechins” compounds that are beneficial for heart health.
Does coffee raise cholesterol?
The answer to this depends on the way you prepare it. Turkish, boiled, or French coffee is unfiltered. Coffee contains substances called “diterpenes,” such as: (Cavestol and Kahwell), which cause cholesterol to rise.
المصادر والمراجع:
High cholesterol – mayoclinic
High Cholesterol Diseases – clevelandclinic
