This is known as Peripheral Arterial Disease, or PAD. If you have PAD, or reduced blood-flow to your legs as a result of high cholesterol, you may notice pain in your legs, usually when exercising. This is known as 'claudication. ' You may notice pain when walking, running or even just climbing the stairs.
"One of the most common signs of high cholesterol in the legs is a condition called claudication. This occurs when the blood vessels in the legs become narrowed or blocked due to the build-up of cholesterol and other substances. As a result, leg pain or cramping can occur during physical activity, such as walking.
The more conditioned your legs become by walking, blood circulation improves and pain reduces over time. Apart from this, PAD risk reduction is similar to that of having a heart-friendly lifestyle.
Accumulation of cholesterol in the blood vessels can lead to clogging which in turn results in pain. When this condition reaches its extremity, it is labeled as Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). PAD causes discomfort both in the hands and feet and can affect activities like walking and running.
High cholesterol has no symptoms. A blood test is the only way to detect if you have it.
Leg pain is a symptom with many possible causes. Most leg pain results from wear and tear or overuse. It also can result from injuries or health conditions in joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine.
See your health care provider as soon as possible if you have: Symptoms of infection, such as redness, warmth or tenderness, or you have a fever greater than100 F (37.8 C). A leg that is swollen, pale or cooler than usual. Calf pain, especially after sitting for a long time, such as on a long car trip or plane ride.
Walking raises your “good” cholesterol and lowers your “bad” cholesterol. A brisk 30-minute walk three times per week is enough to raise your “good” cholesterol (HDL) and lower your “bad” cholesterol (LDL) a few points. This amount of exercise, even without weight loss, is shown to improve your cholesterol levels.
As a general guide, total cholesterol levels should be: 5mmol/L or less for healthy adults. 4mmol/L or less for those at high risk.
High cholesterol has no symptoms. Only a blood test can detect high cholesterol.
While you may have no obvious signs early on, symptoms can develop as plaque builds up in the arteries. The hardening and narrowing of the arteries is called atherosclerosis. It may result in chest discomfort, called angina, dizziness, or excessive sweating.
Pain in your legs and feet at night, or when trying to sleep, is often a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Peripheral artery disease leg pain can occur anywhere in your leg, but the most common places to feel pain are in the muscles of your calf, thigh or buttocks.
Muscle fatigue – too much high-intensity exercise is one of the most common links to leg pain, as overworking your muscles can cause them to cramp during the night. Nerve issues – a pinched nerve or spinal cord injury can put pressure on your nerves, causing muscle cramps in your legs.
Vascular pain often feels like an uncomfortable heaviness or throbbing sensation. It can also feel like an aching sensation. It usually affects your legs and can be worse with walking or exerting yourself.
Peripheral artery disease that causes leg pain can be indicative of heart issues. People that have PAD are at a higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack. This could be a sign that the coronary arteries are blocked and the blood flow is reduced.
Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis) can be another cause of leg pain. Pain in the knee and ankle joints of the leg is common with the arthritis conditions. The pain of sciatica (from disc disease of the spine) may radiate down the leg and is another common cause of leg pain.
Leg pain can be one of the first and most common symptoms of peripheral vascular disease, a variety of conditions and diseases that affect the arteries of the body, usually in the heart, brain and especially the legs, that can have life-threatening consequences.
Can High Cholesterol Make Me Tired? No, high cholesterol doesn't usually cause fatigue, but it can lead to heart diseases, such as coronary artery disease, that do. With this heart condition, excess LDL builds up as plaque in your heart's small arteries, causing them to narrow and stiffen.
The bad cholesterol is called LDL and the good cholesterol is called HDL. When people have high cholesterol their LDL (bad) is high and their HDL (good) is low. Eating healthy, regular exercise and drinking plenty of water will help to bring down cholesterol levels within 2-3 weeks.
“It adds up over time, which may mean a heart attack or stroke in your 50s or 60s.” The longer you have high cholesterol, the more likely you are to develop heart disease. In one study, people who had high levels for 11 years or more had double the risk than those who had them for 10 years or less.