High Cholesterol Warning Signs: What to Look for on Your Face & Body
By Dr Lauren Holland, Marylebone Diagnostic Centre
High cholesterol is often called a silent condition because most people feel perfectly well until something serious occurs – such as a heart attack or stroke.
However, your body can sometimes give early warning signs, even visible ones on your face and eyes. Understanding these clues – and confirming them with a blood test – can help prevent life-threatening complications.
What Is High Cholesterol and Why It Matters
Cholesterol is a wax-like fat made in your liver and found in certain foods. You need it to build cells and hormones, but too much of it in your blood can form fatty deposits (plaques) inside arteries.
Over time, these plaques narrow and stiffen arteries, restricting blood flow — a process known as atherosclerosis. This can lead to:
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- Peripheral arterial disease
Because cholesterol rarely causes pain or early symptoms, it’s often discovered only through testing – or after a serious cardiovascular event.
How High Cholesterol Can Show Up on Your Face
Sometimes, cholesterol deposits appear on the skin or eyes, providing visual hints before internal damage occurs.
Xanthelasma (Eyelid Cholesterol Patches)
- Small, yellowish, flat or slightly raised bumps on or near the eyelids.
- Caused by cholesterol deposits under the skin.
- May occur even if cholesterol is only moderately raised but should always prompt a lipid profile test.
Corneal Arcus (Arcus Senilis)
- A pale grey or white ring around the edge of the cornea (the clear part of the eye).
- Common in older adults, but in people under 45 it may signal high cholesterol or triglycerides.
- It doesn’t affect sight but is an important visual clue that arteries may be under strain.
Eruptive Xanthomas
- Clusters of small red-yellow bumps, usually on the face, elbows, or buttocks.
- Often linked to very high triglyceride levels.
- Can appear suddenly and require urgent blood testing.
Other Warning Signs on the Body
High cholesterol affects the circulatory system, so symptoms can appear in other areas too – often linked to reduced blood flow.
Watch for:
- Shortness of breath or chest tightness (possible angina)
- Leg pain or cramps when walking (peripheral artery disease)
- Cold or pale feet
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in limbs
- Fatigue, dizziness, or headaches
- Erectile dysfunction in men
- Blurred vision or transient loss of sight
- Sudden speech difficulty or facial drooping (possible TIA or stroke)
These symptoms are not unique to cholesterol problems, but when combined with risk factors – age, poor diet, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, or family history – they demand attention.
What To Do If You Notice Any Warning Signs
- Don’t panic – test.
A simple lipid profile checks your total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”), HDL (“good”), and triglycerides. - Review risk factors.
Family history, diet, weight, and lifestyle all influence cholesterol levels. - Adopt healthy habits.
Eat less saturated fat, exercise regularly, stop smoking, and maintain a healthy weight. - Consider medication if advised.
Statins and other lipid-lowering medicines reduce cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. - Monitor regularly.
Re-test as recommended – typically every 6 to 12 months – to ensure improvement.
How Marylebone Diagnostic Centre Can Help
At Marylebone Diagnostic Centre, we provide fast, discreet cholesterol and cardiovascular screening with results available within 24 – 42 hours, depending on the test.
Our Cholesterol & Lipid Health Profile includes:
- Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides
- HbA1c and glucose for diabetes risk
- Blood pressure and BMI assessment
- Optional cardiac markers and thyroid tests
We also offer:
- Doctor consultation with on-site interpretation and lifestyle guidance
- Follow-up plans to track improvement
- Referrals to cardiologists or dietitians where appropriate
All testing is performed under the Marylebone High Standard, and MDC participates in QCMD quality assurance to ensure every result is accurate and reliable.
Why Choose Marylebone Diagnostic Centre
- Results within 24 – 42 hours
- On-site consultant review
- Private suites and confidential care
- CQC-accredited and QCMD-validated
- Optional teleconsultations for results
FAQs About High Cholesterol
Take Control of Your Heart Health
If you’ve noticed facial changes or symptoms that worry you, don’t wait for problems to progress.
Book your Cholesterol & Cardiovascular Health Profile at Marylebone Diagnostic Centre today.
73 Baker Street, London W1U 6RD
+44 7495 970109
Monday–Saturday, 8:00–16:00
(Just 5 minutes from Baker Street Tube)
Your health, tested to the Marylebone High Standard – with results you can trust.
