If you’re referring to the
common claim that “high cholesterol has 5 warning symptoms,” there’s an important catch: high cholesterol usually causes no symptoms at all. You generally can’t tell from how you feel.
In rare cases of very high inherited cholesterol, physical signs can occur, such as:
- Yellowish cholesterol deposits around the eyes (xanthelasma).
- Firm yellowish bumps or nodules on the skin (xanthomas), often around tendons.
- A gray-white ring around the cornea (corneal arcus), particularly when it appears at a young age.
- Enlarged or thickened tendons, especially the Achilles tendon.
- Premature cardiovascular symptoms—such as chest pain or shortness of breath—can result from artery disease caused by high cholesterol, but these are not symptoms of high cholesterol itself.
The reliable way to know is a blood lipid panel measuring LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides.
If you want, I can also explain “5 symptoms of high cholesterol” myths vs. the real warning signs of blocked arteries.
