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Attention! Extremely cold hands could be a sign of this deadly heart disease
It’s not uncommon to suffer from cold hands in the winter. But if you’re often cold despite trying your best to stay warm indoors, your body may be trying to tell you that something isn’t quite right. According to experts, if your hands or feet are often cold, you may be suffering from a symptom of high cholesterol levels – known as the silent killer. This causes a condition called peripheral artery disease or PAD. Read on to know more.
Most people who have peripheral vascular disease do not have any symptoms.
While it’s not unusual to struggle to keep your hands warm during the colder months, if you never feel comfortable, it’s a sign that something is off with your health. According to doctors, many conditions can cause fingers and hands to become cold – but if there is no change in color, it could be a sign of a heart problem.
Often referred to as the silent killer, cold hands can be a symptom of high cholesterol levels. Not only is it hard to detect – because high cholesterol shows no symptoms in the early stages – but the only way to confirm your condition is with a blood test.
This causes a condition called peripheral artery disease or PADWhich can sometimes lead to a high cholesterol diagnosis.
What is PAD?
According to experts, your arteries are shaped like hollow tubes that have a smooth lining, which prevents blood from clotting and promotes steady blood flow. When you have peripheral artery disease, plaque that is made of fat slowly builds up inside your artery walls. Gradually, this causes your arteries to narrow.
Many plaque deposits are hard on the outside and soft on the inside. The hard surface may crack or tear, allowing platelets to flow into the area. Blood clots can form around the plaque, causing your artery to narrow even further. PAD may get worse faster in some people than in others. Many other factors also matter, including where plaque forms in your body and your overall health.
Symptoms and signs of PAD
Doctors say the first symptoms of PAD are usually pain, cramps, or discomfort in your arms or legs, and sometimes in the buttocks. It occurs when you are active and goes away when you take proper rest. Other symptoms of peripheral artery disease include:
- Burning or aching pain in your hands and toes while you rest, especially when lying flat at night
- cold skin on your hands and even feet
- redness or other color changes in your skin
- more frequent skin and soft tissue infections
- sores on your hands, arms, and toes that don’t heal
Most people who have peripheral vascular disease do not have any symptoms. PAD forms throughout life, but symptoms may not become apparent until later in life. In many people, symptoms do not appear until their artery has narrowed by 60 percent or more.
Complications caused by PAD
Experts say that without treatment, people with PAD may need amputation — removal of part or all of your arm or leg, especially in people who also have diabetes.
This may be because your body’s circulatory system is interconnected; The effects of PAD can extend beyond the affected organ. People who have atherosclerosis in their legs often have it in other parts of their bodies, too.
What is Risk factors associated with PAD,
Doctors say tobacco use is the most significant risk factor for PAD and its complications. According to studies, more than 80 percent of people suffering from this condition are smokers. Tobacco use increases the risk of PAD by 400 percent and symptoms of PAD appear about 10 years earlier.
Compared with non-smokers of the same age, people who smoke and have PAD are more likely to:
- die of a heart attack or stroke
- The results of bypass surgery procedures on their legs are poor.
- have an amputation
- Age is 50 years and above
- Have a personal or family history of heart or blood vessel disease
- have high blood pressure
- are fat
- have a blood clotting disorder
- have kidney disease
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High cholesterol shows no symptoms
peripheral artery disease or PAD
Symptoms and signs of PAD
Complications caused by PAD
Risk factors associated with PAD