NHS doctor says skin sign could indicate high cholesterol and increased heart disease risk
Knowing subtle signs could help with early diagnosis and make for a better outcome
Being vigilant about the subtle signals our bodies send us could lead to early detection and improved health outcomes. Now, an NHS doctor has highlighted one such sign.
Dr Renee Hoenderkamp, GB News' resident medical expert, has pointed out a painless skin symptom that could be indicative of high cholesterol. High cholesterol, along with hypertension, can increase the risk of heart disease and other severe health conditions, often without presenting noticeable symptoms.
However, Dr Hoenderkamp suggests that keeping a close eye on your skin could prove beneficial.
She said: "You can get yellowish-orange growths on your skin if your cholesterol levels are high."
These waxy lumps, as described by the doctor, are cholesterol deposits beneath the skin. When they appear on the eyelids, they're referred to as xanthelasma, reports Birmingham Live.
Research indicates that approximately half of individuals with xanthelasma have abnormal cholesterol levels. These deposits are known as xanthoma when they occur elsewhere on the skin.
As explained by Dr Hoenderkamp, these are painless and can manifest in various areas, especially around the corners of your eyes. The sudden appearance of bumps across the affected skin area may resemble a rash, warts, or molluscum contagiosum.
In fact, they are fatty cholesterol deposits resulting from extremely high levels of triglycerides (a type of cholesterol) in the blood. "Triglycerides is often high in familial hypercholesterolaemia," she said.
Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a genetic disorder that hampers the body's ability to remove harmful LDL-cholesterol ("bad cholesterol") from the bloodstream, dramatically increasing the risk of heart disease at a young age.