Pharmacist's urgent advice to anyone with high cholesterol to do simple check now

Pharmacist's urgent advice to anyone with high cholesterol to do simple check now Pharmacist Raj Patel has issued an urgent message to anyone living with high cholesterol as it could lead to a series of dangerous health conditions if it's ignored It's important to keep an eye on your health as people can easily ignore silent symptoms. A pharmacist who previously issued an urgent alert over medication taken in the heatwave has shared another message to fans online. Pharmacist Raj Patel, with over 35 years of industry experience, discussed high cholesterol and sent an urgent message over the signs which can be easy to miss. He said high cholesterol could be damaging your arteries and it's likely you won't feel much. So the best practice is to remember one thing to avoid any major medical emergency. He continued to tell his nearly 100,000 followers on TikTok: "These yellow particles represent LDL often called your bad cholesterol. "LDL carries cholesterol through your bloodstream and your body actually needs cholesterol but when too many LDL particles circulate, some can enter and become trapped inside the artery wall." The pharmacist also said over time this fatty material can build up and eventually form a plaque, known as atherosclerosis. He explained: "As that plaque gets bigger, the opening becomes narrower and blood has less room to get through and narrowing isn't always the most dangerous part. "A plaque can rapture and your body treats that rapture like an injury and a blood clot can rapidly form. Blocked blood flow to the heart and you can have a heart attack, blocked blood flow to the brain and you can have a stroke and when arteries supplying your legs become narrowed, it can lead to peripheral arterial disease." Concluding his advice, the pharmacist urged anyone who suspects they have high cholesterol to act now and shouldn't wait until they feel something. He added: "Know your cholesterol numbers and know your cardiovascular risk." High Cholesterol Symptoms Explained: According to the NHS, high cholesterol does not usually cause any symptoms. Most people feel completely well and only discover they have high levels after having a routine blood test. High cholesterol is hidden because you cannot feel or see the levels in your body. Also extra fat silently blocks your blood vessels over time and unchecked high cholesterol raises your risk of severe events like heart attacks and strokes. It's important to get tested every once in a while. A simple blood test at your GP surgery can identify your levels as adults aged 40 to 74 are offered a free check to assess risk factors. You are more at risk if you are over 50, smoke, eat a lot of fatty foods, do not exercise, or have a family history of high cholesterol.