High cholesterol: Signs include painful muscle cramping in the hips, thighs or calves

Fortunately, not everyone with high cholesterol will experience PAD, and there are a number of ways to reduce cholesterol.

The NHS says: “To reduce your cholesterol, try to cut down on fatty food, especially food that contains a type of fat called saturated fat. You can still have foods that contain a healthier type of fat called unsaturated fat.”

Changing what you eat, being more active, and stopping smoking can often help get your cholesterol back to a healthy level.

The NHS notes there are two main types of fat, which are saturated and unsaturated. Eating too many foods high in saturated fat can raise the level of cholesterol in your blood.