Symptoms of high cholesterol do not exist alone in a way a
patient or doctor can identify by touch or sight. Symptoms of high cholesterol
are revealed if you have the symptoms of atherosclerosis, a common consequence
of having high cholesterol levels. These can include:
Narrowed coronary
arteries in the heart (angina)
Leg pain when
exercising - this is because the arteries that supply the legs have narrowed.
Blood clots and
ruptured blood vessels - these can cause a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke).
Ruptured plaques -
this can lead to coronary thrombosis (a clot forming in one of the arteries
that delivers blood to the heart). If this causes significant damage to heart
muscle it could cause heart failure.
Xanthomas - thick
yellow patches on the skin, especially around the eyes. They are, in fact,
deposits of cholesterol. This is commonly seen among people who have inherited
high cholesterol susceptibility (familial or inherited hypercholesterolaemia).