Often notice little lumps and bumps on your skin but aren’t really sure what they mean? Well, it could be a sign of high cholesterol.
While not all fats are bad as some supply energy and ensure everything is running correctly in your body, certain fats – such as cholesterol – can spell a health risk. Often dubbed the silent killer, high cholesterol can quietly wreak havoc in your arteries, putting you at a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.
In fact, “bad” cholesterol brings this increased risk of cardiovascular problems and should be less than 130mg/dl.
On the other hand, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the opposite, known as “good” cholesterol, and reduces the likelihood of heart and circulation problems. A good cholesterol level ranges from 140 to 200mg/dl; but if it reaches 300, the heart attack risk can more than double.
Now, health experts have warned that lumps and bumps under your skin could be a sign of dangerously high cholesterol levels, according to the Mirror.
When this occurs, fat deposits form in tendons and skin. They could even cause severe stomach pain because of an enlarged liver or spleen.
Worryingly, having too much cholesterol in your blood can cause a build-up of the fatty substance in your arteries, causing them to become obstructed. This poses a major risk for serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease.
What’s worse, many people with high cholesterol don’t even know their levels are too high until it’s too late, landing on the condition’s nickname as the silent killer.
This makes a blood test the most reliable way of determining your cholesterol levels. Your results will be more accurate if you haven’t eaten anything for at least 12 hours.
The good news is, there are many ways to keep the fatty substance in check after you receive a diagnosis, ranging from medication to lifestyle changes.
In fact, reaching an ideal cholesterol level can be as simple as introducing the following lifestyle tweaks:
- Reducing saturated fat in the diet
- Eating more fruit and vegetables
- Eating more fibre which can be found in vegetables, legumes, oatmeal, and oat bran
- Exercising regularly
- Reaching an ideal weight
- Quitting smoking
- Cutting down on alcohol.