While the only surefire way to know if you have high cholesterol is with a blood test, keeping an eye on your pale-coloured nails can be an early indicator.
A doctor has noted that the state of your pale-coloured nails could show some wanting signs of high cholesterol.
A certain amount cholesterol is needed by the body to function properly, but having too much can put you at risk of a number of serious medical issues. This is because the cholesterol can build up in the blood vessels, leading to blockages and even causing artery walls to harden, preventing the flow of blood around the body, ranging from heart disease to stroke. One way to spot the culprit is by looking at your nails, according to Monika Wassermann, Medical Director at Olio Lusso.
While it is thought around one in three people in India have high cholesterol, some may not realise as it is typically symptomless. Most people won’t know they have the condition unless their blood is tested or they suffer from one of the associated health risks, such as a heart attack or stroke.
“High cholesterol attacks in silence, making it difficult to notice its symptoms. However, this does not mean you can completely fail to identify high cholesterol levels in your body.
“One red flag could appear on your nails.” She urged people to look out for pale-coloured nails.
She continued: “If you didn’t know, high cholesterol causes plaque formation in your blood vessels. The plaque then affects blood circulation, resulting in pale nails.”
According to the NHS, this isn’t the only sign that can appear in your nails.
The health service shares that brittle, slow-growing toenails could be also pointing to high cholesterol levels.
Brittle toenails are one of the warning signs associated with a condition called peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the health body says. This condition is triggered by a build-up of cholesterol in your arteries, leading to a restricted blood supply to your legs.
However, the health service notes that symptoms of PAD often take a long time to develop. Once you do identify the symptoms, it’s important to get medical help as soon as possible.
“If by any chance you spot pale nails or other aforementioned symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as you can.
“Your healthcare provider will perform a blood test to help you find out whether or not it is high cholesterol affecting you.”
While these signs could be pointing to high cholesterol levels, the condition rarely causes symptoms.
Dubbed as “silent”, high cholesterol can be most reliably picked up through a blood test.
How to lower high cholesterol levels
- Avoiding saturated fats
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts, seeds and healthy fats
- Exercising regularly
- Quitting smoking
- Reducing your alcohol intake
