Our bodies are like finely tuned machines, with every detail quietly conveying important information. Have you ever noticed small changes in your fingers, eyes, or other parts of your body? These subtle changes may be your body's "early warning" signals. Among them, certain signs on your hands, especially those related to high cholesterol, can even alert you when you don't feel anything at all.
Cholesterol plays an irreplaceable role in our bodies, but when there's too much of it, it can become a ticking time bomb. It's like the oil smoke in your kitchen— harmless in moderation, but when it builds up too much, it can block the exhaust vent and even start a fire. When cholesterol accumulates in the blood vessels, it sticks to the walls like "stubborn grease", slowly building up and eventually forming blood clots. It's like a pipe blocked with stagnant water, preventing the free flow of blood. The scariest part is that high cholesterol often doesn't show any obvious symptoms, and many people only discover their cholesterol is high after a heart attack or stroke. However, if you pay attention, your body is not without warning. There are some subtle signs hidden in every corner of our bodies, particularly around the hands and eyes, that may be signalling: Your cholesterol is too high!
A prominent sign of high cholesterol is tendon xanthomas, which sounds a bit scary but is not cancer. It's a lump formed by cholesterol deposits in tendons or under the skin. You might find a small lump near your finger joints, knees, or Achilles tendons.
These lumps are painless, but as cholesterol continues to accumulate, they can grow larger, like a small clog in the kitchen corner that gradually turns into a big pile of grease that's hard to clear. These lumps sometimes don't cause obvious pain. Especially in the early stages. You might think they are just "insignificant little bumps", but they could be warning signals from your body. If you notice swelling or unusual changes in these areas, it's like finding a crack in a pipe; it's important to take care of it promptly. If cholesterol accumulates around the Achilles tendon, it can cause inflammation leading to pain or discomfort. Every time you walk, it feels like you're carrying a heavy weight on your ankle, and your steps become clumsy. Each step reminds you that something is wrong with your body. Such small issues can affect your normal activities and even lead to instability in your gait or discomfort when wearing shoes.
In addition to the hands, the area around the eyes is also a place that often reveals the secrets of your body. You may have noticed small yellow lumps around your eyes from time to time. These are called xanthelasmas. While these lumps might seem unimportant, they are caused by cholesterol deposits, just like the oil stains on your kitchen countertop that slowly accumulate and become visible stains. Xanthelasmas usually appear around the eyes, especially on the upper eyelids, and their presence may be a clear signal of high cholesterol. If you carefully observe yourself in a makeup mirror and suddenly notice unusual yellow spots around your eyes, it's like an oil stain on your clothes that has suddenly become more noticeable and hard to ignore. At this point, it's important to take this change seriously and schedule a check-up. Once you suspect you might have symptoms of high cholesterol, what steps should you take next?
First, think about whether anyone in your family has this condition. If they do, be cautious, as it's very likely to be inherited.
High cholesterol can be a "silent killer". Unlike a cold, it won't make you feel uncomfortable, but it can quietly affect your health from behind the scenes. Therefore, it's crucial to pay closer attention to the small changes in your body, particularly the ones mentioned above.
