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Spasms could be the ‘first noticeable symptom’ of cholesterol clogging your arteries

Sarah SmithNovember 4, 2022

High cholesterol, also known as the “silent killer” due to the fact that it does not display many warning symptoms, is the forerunner to serious health concerns such as heart disease. As soon as there is an excessive amount of cholesterol in your blood, it will begin to build up in your arteries. Having pain in your legs is one of the telltale signs that you are going through this process. This is how you may recognize it.

If you do nothing to treat your cholesterol levels, plaque will continue to build up in your arteries, even if high cholesterol does not immediately present obvious symptoms.

Plaque, which is composed of cholesterol and other fatty compounds, can accumulate in your arteries to the point where they become constricted.

As soon as the blood vessels in your legs begin to constrict, the blood supply to your legs will suffer, which will result in the “first noticeable indication.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, all of these processes constitute a formula for a condition known as peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is considered a “common” problem.

Leg cramps are listed as the “initial” symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) on the health website.

Spasms, or cramps, define a quick involuntary muscular contraction or convulsive movement.

A leg cramp can feel quite similar to a muscle that has been tightened, and it can be very uncomfortable as well as painful.

PAD can also manifest itself in the form of discomfort and soreness in the legs, a condition that is more commonly referred to as intermittent claudication.

This type of leg pain can be identified through these tell-tale signs:

It develops with activity
It goes away with rest
It comes back when you resume activity.

It’s possible that having intermittent claudication will leave your legs feeling numb, weak, heavy, or exhausted.

However, this ache can travel all the way down to your buttocks, therefore it shouldn’t be assumed that it only occurs in this particular region.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “You may notice the discomfort in your calf, but you may also feel it in your buttocks or thighs.” [Clinic citation needed]

“The pain can be severe enough to prevent you from engaging in activities that you enjoy, such as playing golf or chasing after your grandchildren,”

PAD can also cause other warning signs, including:

A burning or aching pain in your feet and toes while resting, especially at night while lying flat
Cool skin on your feet
Redness or other colour changes of your skin
More frequent infections
Toe and foot sores that don’t heal.

PAD, on the other hand, does not usually generate many obvious symptoms, which makes it challenging to diagnose in the same way that excessive cholesterol is.

Because cholesterol has no discernible symptoms, a blood test is the most accurate method for assessing the levels of cholesterol in your body.

According to the National Health Service (NHS), a blood sample will be taken from your arm or a finger prick test will be performed.

After having your levels checked, there are a variety of things you may do to get your cholesterol out of the danger zone, such as following a diet that is low in saturated fat and using medications that are known as statins.

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