It’s probably the last place you’d expect to find a signal that something is wrong with your heart, but checking your nails regularly could provide to be life-saving
It might seem like there’s no clear link between your fingernails and your cholesterol, but subtle warning signs might be present that you’re heading into the danger zone. Acting quickly will help you tackle the issue sooner.
You’d be surprised that high cholesterol levels can cause a number of changes to your fingernails. Sometimes these are pretty apparent whilst others could go unnoticed for ages.
A big thing to pay attention to is the colour of your natural nails as those with high cholesterol may start to see them turn a yellowish colour. There might also be some small bumps – known as xanthomas – which is a buildup of cholesterol under the skin.
Your nails might also start to lose their natural colouring and become more pale. This is because our blood flow is responsible for the pinkish colour under our nailbeds. Loss of colour could be a sign you’re starting to lose some circulation due to cholesterol blockages.
Aside from the colour, you’re going to want to pay attention to the thickness of your nails too. Having high cholesterol can cause things to go either way – with thicker than normal nails or ones that are brittle and easily breakable.
In rare circumstances, the condition will cause dark lines under the nails to form – known as splinter haemorrhages. These ‘splinters’ are small spots of blood that can appear on both the finger and toenails.
Having high cholesterol puts you at greater risk of serious problems, including heart attacks and strokes. Most people take medication to regain control of their cholesterol levels, but lots are also required to make drastic lifestyle changes as well – including a diet overhaul as well as looking at habits like exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption.
High cholesterol has no specific symptoms until it leads to other serious health problems. This is why many consider it a silent killer, as the issue can go unnoticed or ignored for years until something life-threatening happens – like a heart attack or stroke.
The only way to confirm a diagnosis of high cholesterol is by having a blood test. You can complete this with your GP and get the results fairly quickly.
