If your cholesterol is too high, your arterial health is in danger. The following are signs your arteries are suffering with too much cholesterol.
Having too much “bad” cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) can lead to atherosclerosis, which happens when plaque and fat build-up in your artery walls. “We tend to think of LDL cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein, as the main type of cholesterol that we focus on as a potentially harmful cholesterol for our hearts because it collects in the walls of your blood vessels,” explains Kate Kirley, MD. To help you identify too much plaque formation in your arteries, here are signs that you need to know about right now.
1. Stomach Issues
“Indigestion, or the feeling of a burning sensation in the chest, can often be mistaken as a symptom of acid reflux or a digestive problem,” says Stephen L. Noble, MD. “However, this sensation can often be a sign of heart disease or a heart attack in women.”
“Heartburn often occurs after a meal and can be relieved by antacids. If the feeling persists after taking antacid medications, this may be symptomatic of a heart attack, especially in women. One theory for such pain is related to inadequate blood flow due to atherosclerosis, which makes the heart work extra hard while eating.”
2. High Blood Pressure
“High cholesterol and high blood pressure tend to run together,” explains Kirley. “One doesn’t necessarily cause the other, but it’s very common to see both in an individual. And certainly, both of them contribute to raising somebody’s risk for heart attack and stroke. The interventions to help – things like more physical activity and nutrition – can impact both your blood pressure and your cholesterol.”
3. Erectile Dysfunction
“Erectile dysfunction is often a symptom of coronary artery disease in men,” says Noble. “Just as the process of atherosclerosis has been previously discussed to occur in the small arteries that feed the heart, this process can occur in the small arteries of the penis. Normal erectile function is supported by healthy blood flow into and out of the penis. When the flow of blood into the penis is compromised, this leads to erectile dysfunction.”
Lowering Your Cholesterol
While you may experience these issues, the fact is that high cholesterol typically presents no symptoms at all. As a result, you may still have high cholesterol, even if you don’t notice any of the signs listed. For this reason, it’s important that you get regular checkups, including a blood test to determine your cholesterol levels.
You can also practice healthy habits at home to lower your cholesterol such as eating heart-healthy foods and exercising regularly. Lastly, you can give your health an extra boost by taking L-arginine Plus. Its ingredients promote cholesterol, blood pressure, and overall heart health. Give yourself the support you need on a daily basis by living healthily and taking L-arginine Plus.