That headline is misleading. High cholesterol usually doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms, which is why it is often called a “silent” risk factor. The only reliable way to know your cholesterol level is with a blood test (lipid panel).
5 things that can sometimes be associated with very high cholesterol
-
Yellowish patches around the eyes (xanthelasma) — cholesterol deposits under the skin.
-
Yellowish or firm bumps on the skin (xanthomas) — can occur with certain severe lipid disorders. shouldn’t wait for symptoms. Regular cholesterol testing is much more useful, especially if you have risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, or a family history of
-
A gray-white ring around the cornea (corneal arcus) — can be associated with high cholesterol, particularly when it appears at a young age.
-
Chest pain with exertion — this isn’t caused by cholesterol itself, but can occur when cholesterol-related plaque contributes to coronary artery disease.
-
Leg pain when walking that improves with rest — can occur when cholesterol-related artery disease reduces blood flow to the legs.
The last two are complications of atherosclerosis, not symptoms of high cholesterol itself.
The key point
You shouldn’t wait for symptoms. Regular cholesterol testing is much more useful, especially if you have risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, or a family history of early heart disease.
If you develop new chest pressure, severe shortness of breath, sudden weakness, or difficulty speaking, seek emergency medical attention rather than assuming it’s “high cholesterol.”
