Pain that stops within minutes could be the ‘first’ cholesterol sign

High cholesterol is the precursor to serious health problems like heart disease and strokes. While the fatty substance is often reluctant to show symptoms, some warning signs can appear once cholesterol builds up in your arteries. One tell-tale sign of this process can strike in your leg.

The “first symptom” spurred on by PAD can be leg pain that stops within a few minutes of resting, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

Also known as intermittent claudication, this type of pain can present as cramping or discomfort in your legs.

It can be aided by rest and crop up during physical activity like walking.

When you’re physically active, your muscle cells are working harder and need more oxygen than your blood can deliver. 

How to lower high cholesterol levels

From a healthy diet to a cholesterol-lowering medicine called statins, there’s plenty you can do to keep your levels in check.

A cholesterol-busting diet focuses on reducing your intake of saturated fats – think cheese, butter, sausages and biscuits. 

However, upping your intake of soluble fibre, found in certain fruits, vegetables and oats, could also help lower your levels.

Other helpful lifestyle tweaks include cutting back on alcohol, quitting smoking and exercising.