It’s something easy to put down to the cold winter weather but you could actually be dealing with a life-threatening problem
Experts have claimed that high cholesterol could be to blame for cold feet. While it may be easy to blame sudden chills on the bleak winter weather, having cold feet constantly may have a more serious cause.
It’s rare to spot early signs of high cholesterol, which is why it is often called a ‘silent killer’. High cholesterol can go undetected for years or until it causes other health complications.
However, your cold feet could be due to poor circulation blocked by high cholesterol. This is known as peripheral artery disease (PAD), a cardiovascular disease according to the NHS.
It’s known, alongside high cholesterol levels, to cause plaque to build up in the arteries of the legs and feet, known as atherosclerosis. This buildup can narrow or block the arteries, reducing blood flow and causing cold feet.
When blood supply is insufficient, the tissues in the legs, ankles, and feet struggle to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need, potentially resulting in a range of symptoms as the disease advances. Additionally, inadequate circulation heightens the risk of serious cardiovascular issues, including heart attacks and strokes.
Like treating high cholesterol, PAD is largely treated through lifestyle changes. Exercising regularly and not smoking are the main lifestyle changes that can ease the symptoms of PAD and reduce the chances of it getting worse.
Patients who are diagnosed with PAD should also be encouraged to eat a healthy diet, lose weight and moderate alcohol consumption. Alongside lifestyle changes, some people will be prescribed medications like statins and antihypertensive.
Other symptoms of PAD include:
- hair loss on your legs and feet
- numbness or weakness in the legs
- brittle, slow-growing toenails
- ulcers (open sores) on your feet and legs, which do not heal
- changing skin colour on your legs, such as turning paler than usual or blue – this may be harder to see on brown and black skin
- shiny skin
- erectile dysfunction
- the muscles in your legs shrinking (wasting)
The symptoms of PAD often develop slowly over time. If your symptoms develop quickly or get suddenly worse, it could be a sign of a serious problem requiring immediate medical attention.
In most cases, the GP will be able to confirm a diagnosis of PAD by doing a physical examination, asking about your symptoms and running an ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) test. In some cases, ABPI may be carried out after you run on a treadmill or cycle on an exercise bike to see the effect of physical activity on your circulation.
There’s no cure for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), but lifestyle changes and medicine can help reduce the symptoms. With treatment, most people’s symptoms remain stable and some may experience an improvement in their pain.
An early diagnosis through a Lipid Profile Test can help prevent and manage high cholesterol. Other ways to manage high cholesterol include: exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy BMI, reducing alcohol intake, reducing or quitting smoking and eating a healthy, balanced diet low in ultra-processed foods.
