There is a very, very, very dangerous physical condition that threatens the lives and health of millions of people around the world, but can quietly and silently exist and develop in the human body without showing any symptoms. This is hypercholesterolemia
The health column of the British Sun Daily, summarizing the experience provided by multiple cardiovascular doctors, told the public: "The foot may prompt you".
With no obvious symptoms, high cholesterol may have developed in the body for a long time before it was discovered. This is a dangerous physical condition.
Cholesterol is a fat in the blood that can accumulate in blood vessels if you eat an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, smoke, and drink alcohol. When too much accumulates, it can block the blood vessels.
A persistently high cholesterol condition can lead to myocardial infarction and stroke. Many people do not know that they have a disease of high cholesterol after the serious complications mentioned above.
Some physical examinations will have cholesterol levels checked, but many people do not pay enough attention to this result. There are many more people who have done such a test.
High cholesterol is a very dangerous physical condition, described by the British Cardiological Society as follows: "It's a hidden risk factor, and when it's known, it's often too late." ”
Can hypercholesterolemia, the hidden killer, really exist and develop in our bodies silently until serious complications such as myocardial infarction or stroke occur?
Through the long-term work of doctors, some "clues" have been found that can indicate that this hidden risk may be physically occurring.
Foot and leg cramps, numbness, or skin color changes may be earlier than myocardial infarction and stroke suggesting the presence of a high cholesterol condition in the body, and a relatively mild complication of high cholesterol – a symptom of peripheral vascular disease.
When there is too much LDL in the blood, or LDL is also "bad cholesterol", it may cause arterial blockage, which is the main cause of arterial vascular disease (PAD for short).
It can also lead to broader peripheral vascular disease (PVD), which manifests as narrowing, hardening, or blocking of blood vessels. Restricts blood flow to the extremities.
For many people, PVD begins slowly and imperceptibly. Usually the first is "fatigue and cramping discomfort in the legs and feet, which is aggravated by activity."
It can also lead to reduced hair on the legs, reddish-blue or pale skin, wounds on the legs and feet that do not heal easily, toenails that become thicker and opaque, and numbness to the toes that do not listen.
At its worst, ischemia may occur (Critical limb ischemia). When the blood in the lower extremities is severely blocked, there is severe pain in the feet and toes even if you do not move.
Research from the University of California School of Medicine states that "pain caused by ischemia in the extremities can wake people up from deep sleep at night." This pain, also known as "resting pain," usually occurs in the legs and can be relieved if the legs are suspended high on the bed or if you get up and walk around.
Of course, in addition to high cholesterol, there are other risk factors for myocardial infarction and stroke, including: high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and lack of exercise.
Note: High cholesterol occurs not only in older adults, but can occur at any age.
Factors that contribute to high cholesterol also include:
Eat too much saturated fat;
Lack of exercise;
There is too much body fat, especially for the size of the belly.
Excessive alcohol consumption;
smoke.