FEET are a divisive body part – either love them or hate them, they get us from A to B.
Sure, some of them look a little worse for wear, but experts say you should keep an eye on your toes in particular.
GettyYour toes could hold the key when it comes to a silent killer, experts say[/caption]
This is because they could reveal signs of a silent killer.
There are two specific symptoms that might mean you have high cholesterol.
It could be nothing at all, and simply to do with a change of diet or not having enough calcium.
But, noticing your toenails have become brittle or are slow growing without any other lifestyle switches might be worth a check up, Dr Sami Firoozi, consultant cardiologist at the Harley Street Clinic previously told the Nottingham Post.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood which accumulates with a bad diet, lack of exercise, smoking and alcohol.
When there is too much cholesterol it blocks the blood vessels.
Sometimes people have no idea they have the condition until they develop serious complications of a heart attack or stroke.
The British Heart Foundation says: “It’s a hidden risk factor which means it happens without us knowing until it’s too late.”
High levels can cause something called peripheral aerial disease (PAD) – where fatty deposits build up and block arteries.
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This is what can then cause the signs in toenails, as blood flow is restricted to the feet.
Anyone can get high cholesterol – things that cause it include:
Eating too much saturated fatNot being active enoughHaving too much body fat, especially around your middle.Drinking excessive alcoholSmoking
Your feet can give you more clues you might have the killer condition, not just the nails.
Cramping in the feet and legs, numbness, or discolouration of the skin could signal there is something seriously wrong.
These are all symptoms of peripheral vascular disease – a complication of high cholesterol.
In peripheral vascular disease (PVD), the blood vessels become narrow, hardened or blocked – this limits blood flow to the limbs, most commonly the legs and feet.
PVD can cause reduced hair growth in the legs, reddish blue or pale skin, wounds or ulcers that won’t heal on the legs and feet, thick opaque toenails or numb and heavy muscles.
In the more advanced stages, people may develop critical limb ischemia.
The severe blockage of blood to the lower limbs results in severe pain in the feet and toes, even when sitting doing nothing.
Risk factors, other than high cholesterol, include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and being physically inactive.