High cholesterol: Symptoms include weakness or numbness in your legs

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High cholesterol means you have too much cholesterol — a waxy substance produced by your liver — in your blood. Unhealthy eating is one of the primary ways that can cause an excessive buildup of cholesterol. Hussein Abdo, supervising pharmacist at Medicine Direct, warned that although the condition does not usually show up in systems, in “extreme” cases, it can put you at risk of amputation.

“Amputation is an extreme procedure for high cholesterol, and most people will not need this procedure provided they take the right medication and make appropriate lifestyle changes,” he explained.

However, if amputation is required, it often indicates that elevated cholesterol levels have stimulated the development of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), cautioned Mr. Abdo.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common condition in which the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries restricts the blood supply to the leg muscles.

According to Mr. Abdo, symptoms that may indicate the need for amputation (in extreme cases) may include weakness or numbness in your legs.

Read more: High cholesterol: the 16-karat vegetable that may lower ‘bad’ cholesterol by 30% in just weeks

“This may be due to your age, weight, or another condition you have (such as high blood pressure or diabetes),” Healthy Body notes.

How to lower high cholesterol

There are two main components to cholesterol management – diet and regular exercise.

Regarding the former, you shouldn’t eat a lot of saturated fat if you have high cholesterol.

According to the Mayo Clinic, saturated fats tend to raise levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is often described as the “bad” cholesterol because it sticks to the inside of your arteries.

Saturated fats are found naturally in red meat and dairy products. It is also found in baked goods and fried foods.

Instead, studies show that eating foods rich in unsaturated fats instead of saturated fats improves cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

To get more unsaturated fats in your diet, the Mayo Clinic says you should:

Use oil instead of butter. For example, fry in olive oil instead of butter, use canola oil when baking, eat fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, instead of meat at least twice a week, and choose lean meats and skinless poultry. Get rid of visible fat from meat. Remove fat and skin from poultry. Limit processed foods, which often contain saturated fats. Instead, eat whole fruits and vegetables when you’re hungry.

Being active is also a key part of taking care of your cholesterol levels and keeping your heart healthy.

According to UK health guidelines, adults should aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. If you can do more, even better.

Moderate-intensity activity means you’re raising your heart rate and breathing hard, but you shouldn’t breathe out.

Walking, jogging, swimming, cycling and dancing are all good options.

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