High cholesterol is notorious for being a silent killer, as it rarely presents symptoms until it is too late. However, if left untreated, it can cause destruction inside of the body.

One of the most significant risks associated with high cholesterol is peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which occurs when fatty cholesterol deposits accumulate in the arteries and restrict blood flow to the lower limbs.

According to Doctor Sami Firoozi, Consultant Cardiologist at the Harley Street Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK, high cholesterol levels that cause PAD can lead to a “smelly” symptom.

Doctor Firoozi warned that while PAD is not immediately life-threatening, the underlying process of atherosclerosis can lead to critical limb ischaemia, a potentially fatal condition that arises when blood flow to the legs becomes severely restricted.

A telltale sign of this complication is the presence of “smelly pus” on the toes. As Doctor Firoozi explained: “The skin on your toes or lower limbs becomes cold and numb, turning red and then black, begin to swell and produce smelly pus, causing severe pain (gangrene).”

Other severe warning signs of extremely high cholesterol include: mild to severe burning pain in your legs, hair loss on your legs and feet, numbness or weakness in the legs, and brittle and slow-growing toenails.

Further symptoms of PAD can include: ulcers on the feet and legs, which don’t heal; skin on the legs turning blue; shiny skin on the lower limbs; and/or the muscles in the legs shrinking.

Doctor Firoozi highlighted that sometimes cholesterol can deposit around the eyes to form fatty, yellowish lumps.

Anybody concerned about their cholesterol levels should seek the advice of their local GP.

A blood test will reveal your total cholesterol, including “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which helps remove “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from the body.

How to combat high cholesterol

Dr Firoozi told Express.co.uk: “High cholesterol can often be reduced by healthy eating and making lifestyle changes, such as increasing exercise, cutting back on alcohol and stopping smoking.”

According to cholesterol charity Heart UK, reducing saturated fats in your diet with unsaturated fats is a great start.

That means swapping out processed foods high in saturated fats, such as sausages and bacon, with unsaturated fats, such as avocado and oily fish.

Other unsaturated fats include:

• Vegetable oils such as olive, sunflower, corn, rapeseed, nut and seed oils
• Nuts and seeds.

Source: https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/health/high-cholesterol-warning-sign-30429814