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It is common to pay almost no attention to the health of our feet until they start to hurt badly.
And there is something very specific: if you notice it in your legs, you’ll likely need to have blood tests.
High cholesterol
If painful and itchy lumps appear on your feet, you may have dangerously high cholesterol.
Like hypertension, high cholesterol is a serious health problem that usually goes unnoticed until a serious event occurs – for example a heart attack or stroke – or is revealed during an incidental medical examination. According to doctors, however, some symptoms may be a “warning sign” to schedule a blood test.
Xanthomas
People with high cholesterol levels may develop painful lumps on their feet that cause itching. These lumps are called xanthomas. This skin condition occurs when fat accumulates under the skin in the form of “hard, whitish small nodules.” They may also be skin-colored, slightly pinker, or even yellow. The presence of this type of skin lesion may be related to abnormal blood lipid levels.
Xanthomas can also be a sign of other serious diseases
The size of xanthomas usually ranges from the size of a pinhead to the size of a grape. Although the legs are one of the most common places where they form, they can also develop on the arms, buttocks, or joints, especially on the knees and elbows. They can also appear on the eyelids; in such cases they are called xanthomas.
Although xanthomas themselves are not dangerous, their occurrence usually indicates a serious health condition.
Besides very elevated cholesterol levels, xanthomas may also be a sign of:
- some types of cancer
- diabetes
- liver scarring as a result of bile duct obstruction
- inflammation and swelling of the pancreas
- hypothyroidism
Source: giatros-in.gr
