High cholesterol can lay the groundwork for serious health problems, ranging from heart disease to stroke.
Therefore, it’s crucial to identify the culprit promptly and intervene before it’s too late.
Characterised by a lack of symptoms, the waxy substance can worryingly climb into the red zone without you knowing.
However, a colourful sign in your eyes could help ring alarm bells.
Sujata Paul, Contact Lens Optician and Professional Services Clinical Lead at Lenstore, told Express.co.uk what to look for.
A condition, known as arcus senilis, could draw attention to high levels of the fatty substance.
Arcus senilis causes a blue, white or light grey ring to form around the outside of your eye.
Paul said: “If you notice a white ring forming around your iris, this could be a sign that your cholesterol is potentially high.
“If your cholesterol is becoming an issue, your eyes are an early indicator as fatty deposits known as lipids will begin to form and create a ring around the outside of your cornea.”
While this sign is most common in older adults above the age of 45, it can strike at any age.
“Those under 40 should keep an extra look out for these, as it can be a sign of extreme levels of cholesterol which would require an appointment with both your optician and GP,” the expert added.
As high cholesterol doesn’t generally cause many symptoms, the most reliable way of finding out your levels remains getting tested.
The NHS explains you can only find out if you have high cholesterol for sure from a blood test.
Once the test confirms the condition, there’s plenty you can do to lower your levels, including a healthy diet and exercise.
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