Cholesterol, also known as a waxy substance, can often silently wreak havoc in your arteries, triggering health problems such as heart disease and strokes. However, one tell-tale sign of a cholesterol build-up can sometimes strike down in your buttocks. Here’s how to spot it.
High levels of “bad” cholesterol – the type that hikes your risk of health problems – promote plaque build-up in your arteries.
A health portal Saint Luke’s explained: “Plaque is a waxy material made up of cholesterol and other things.
“When you have too much plaque, your arteries can become narrowed and limit blood flow.”
When the blood vessels constrict as a result of this, the blood flow to your legs also gets restricted, leading to the “first noticeable” sign.
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The lack of blood flow to your legs can sometimes lead to a “common” condition known as peripheral artery disease (PAD), the Cleveland Clinic explains.
According to the health portal, the “first” symptom of PAD may be leg pain.
However, this pain doesn’t only strike down in this area as it can also travel all the way to your buttocks.
The Cleveland Clinic shares: “You may notice the pain in your calf, but you may also feel it in your buttocks or thighs.
How to lower high cholesterol
Whether it’s lifestyle changes or a medication called statins, there are various means of retrieving your levels from a danger zone.
The key to a cholesterol-busting diet is cutting back on saturated fat. So, reducing your intake of foods like sausages, butter, cheese and biscuits is one of the greatest weapons in your arsenal.
Other lifestyle changes that could benefit your arteries include exercise, quitting smoking and cutting back on alcohol.
However, your doctor might also order you to take a cholesterol-lowering medicine known as statins in some cases.
