High Cholesterol: 5 Warning Signs You Should Know About

High cholesterol is often described as a “silent” health problem because most people cannot feel when their cholesterol levels are elevated. Unlike a fever or an infection, high cholesterol usually does not produce obvious symptoms on its own. The only reliable way to know your cholesterol level is through a blood test. (CDC)

That distinction is important because several symptoms commonly presented online as signs of high cholesterol are actually signs of conditions that high cholesterol can contribute to, particularly when plaque builds up inside the arteries.

1. Chest Pain or Pressure
High levels of LDL cholesterol can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries. Over time, this can narrow the arteries supplying blood to the heart and increase the risk of coronary artery disease.

Chest pressure, tightness, or pain—especially during physical activity—can be a warning sign of reduced blood flow to the heart. However, chest discomfort has many possible causes and should never be self-diagnosed as “high cholesterol.” High cholesterol itself does not cause the sensation directly. (www.heart.org)

If chest pain is severe, sudden, or accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder, seek emergency medical attention.

2. Pain or Cramping in the Legs
Atherosclerosis can affect arteries outside the heart as well. When narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs, a condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD) can develop.

One possible symptom is aching or cramping in the legs while walking that improves after resting. People may also experience weakness, numbness, or changes in the temperature or color of a foot or leg.

High cholesterol is one of several risk factors associated with PAD, but leg pain alone cannot establish that cholesterol is elevated. (www.heart.org)

3. Shortness of Breath During Activity
Breathlessness can have numerous causes, including lung disease, anemia, lack of fitness, heart conditions, and anxiety. However, cardiovascular disease associated with atherosclerosis can also contribute to shortness of breath, particularly during exertion.

For this reason, unexplained or worsening breathlessness deserves medical attention rather than being automatically attributed to aging or poor fitness.

4. Yellowish Deposits Around the Eyes
Certain people with very high cholesterol—particularly those with inherited lipid disorders—can develop fatty deposits called xanthelasma around the eyelids.

These yellowish patches or bumps are not a reliable way to determine whether someone has high cholesterol. They can occur in people with normal cholesterol levels as well. Nevertheless, unexplained yellow deposits around the eyes are worth discussing with a healthcare professional.