High cholesterol is known to be a silent killer, as it doesn’t present many symptoms. Symptoms related to high cholesterol can also be attributed to other health conditions, meaning there is a higher risk for misdiagnosis, which can delay treatment.
Cholesterol problems are quite dangerous because many don’t realize they have high cholesterol until a heart-related event occurs. At that point, it can already be too late.
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That’s why it’s important that you go for your annual check-up and ensure you get your cholesterol levels checked to prevent a more serious problem from occurring.
Additionally, it’s important to spot the signs of high cholesterol early on. One of those signs involves the look and appearance of your eyes.
Yellow spots around the eyes signals high cholesterol
The main reason why a person experiences yellow spots in and around the eyes is a condition known as blepharitis. This condition occurs when the tear ducts become clogged. With blepharitis, the eyes will be itchy, red, eyelashes will be crusty and stick together, and patients may experience a sensitivity to light.
Blepharitis is a condition that is easily treated. Your doctor could diagnose you with blepharitis when you actually have high cholesterol.
Yellow, pearly spots around the eyes are a sign of high cholesterol, and the condition is known as xanthelasma. These spots are not dangerous but do act as a warning sign for high cholesterol.
These spots appear as cholesterol accumulates beneath the skin of the eyes. Some experts suggest that xanthelasma can also appear with normal cholesterol levels.
To be safe, if you notice these spots developing around the eyes, you should go in and see your doctor. They can run tests to determine the exact cause of the yellow spots around your eyes and recommend appropriate treatment.
Complications of high cholesterol
As you may know, living with high cholesterol can be quite dangerous. As cholesterol plaque accumulates along the arterial walls, it causes the arteries to become stiff and narrow. This increases the risk of complications as it prevents oxygenated blood from moving freely in the body. This also causes the heart to become overworked as it tries to compensate for this decline in circulation.
High cholesterol is associated with atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease, all conditions that can have deadly outcomes.
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It can be a result of poor lifestyle habits like eating a fatty diet, not exercising, and smoking — or it can be hereditary.
Working with your doctor to improve your cholesterol is important to maintain overall good health and prevent serious disease or heart-related events from occurring.
Related: Cholesterol deposits around the eyes: Causes and natural remedies
