10 common symptoms that could be linked to high cholesterol

Cholesterol is often referred to as a "silent killer' because it does not give particularly serious symptoms until it is too late.

Sometimes, it is the fault of improper diets, whereas, in other cases, it is a genetic predisposition.

In any case, the lipid (cholesterol) level in one's blood must always be kept under control because it can expose one to the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

The first defense is prevention and here are 10 symptoms that can serve as warning signals.

via Mayo Clinic

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• Constipation. Regular bowel movements can be hampered not only by bad eating habits but also by hypercholesterolemia resulting in constipation. 

• Headache and dizziness. Excess fats form plaques that hinder the blood flow and harden the arteries. These obstructions affect the oxygenation of the brain causing dizziness and loss of balance. 

• Tingling or numbness in hands and feet. Feeling numbness, tingling, and soreness in arms, hands, legs, and feet is the result of inadequate blood circulation.

• Bad breath. Often this disorder also occurs in people who take proper care of their oral hygiene. The actual cause of their bad breath is poor digestion, in addition to the alteration of the PH level of their saliva. 

• A sense of fatigue and asthenia. There are several reasons why you may feel tired or weak, but one of them is the low influx of oxygen and nutrients in the circulatory system.

• Food intolerance. In cases of high cholesterol, the body tends to develop difficulties in metabolizing fatty foods such as fried food, cheese, red meat, gluten, etc. 

• Urticaria. Itching, skin irritation, acne, and reddish spots can all be the effects of an organism that is suffering as it tries to remove the excess cholesterol. 

• Abdominal heaviness. An elevated level of lipids (cholesterol) in the blood and in the liver slows down the metabolism influencing digestion and causing abdominal bloating and heaviness.

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• Angina. Hypertension and poor circulation can strain the heart causing from mild to severe chest pain. 

• Eye problems. Blurred vision, burning eyes, and the yellowing of the white part of the eyeball are all warning signals of poor blood circulation caused by a cholesterol level that is too high. 

Each of these symptoms may be attributable to several other factors and does not have a true diagnostic validity. In the event of one or more of these warning signals, it is, however, advisable to contact your doctor to carry out further analyses.