Having brittle or slow-growing toenails could mean you have high cholesterol.
High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood. It's mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. It can also run in families.
High cholesterol does not cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test. However, when your cholesterol reaches a severe level, several body parts may be affected.
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Unusual-looking toes have been said to be one of the early warning symptoms indicating high cholesterol, reports the Mirror. If you're suffering with unusual-looking toes or pain in your legs, it could indicate dangerously high cholesterol levels.
According to Dr Sami Firoozi, consultant cardiologist at the Harley Street Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK, brittle or slow-growing toenails can be a tell-tale sign of the cholesterol complication. These two signs are caused by high cholesterol levels in the blood, which can cause peripheral aerial disease (PAD).
What is peripheral aerial disease?
PAD refers to diseases of the blood vessels located outside the heart and brain. The NHS said: “Many people with PAD have no symptoms. However, some develop a painful ache in their legs when they walk, which usually disappears after a few minutes' rest.
“You should see a GP if you experience recurring leg pain when exercising.”
As a general guide, the NHS recommends maintaining total cholesterol levels at 5mmol/L or less. In the UK however, three out of five adults have total cholesterol levels above 5mmol/L.
What’s more, the average cholesterol levels among Brits are 5.7mmol/L. Fortunately, there are ways to reverse the condition, and diet should be the main focal point.
To reduce your cholesterol, you should overhaul your diet and up the amount of exercise you do. The NHS said: "Try to cut down on fatty food, especially food that contains a type of fat called saturated fat."
Saturated fat is found in:
- Meat pies, sausages and fatty meat
- Butter, lard and ghee
- Cream and hard cheese, like cheddar
- Cakes and biscuits
- Food that contains coconut oil or palm oil.
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