Health experts have warned that high cholesterol is a common health problem that may go unnoticed because it often does not cause obvious symptoms in its early stages
High cholesterol can be linked to serious long-term complications, including an increased risk of clogged arteries and heart attacks.
Recent scientific studies indicate a link between high cholesterol and certain physical symptoms, most notably tendon pain. Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that this pain occurs more frequently in people with high cholesterol levels, especially in severe cases.
In contrast, the researchers pointed out that the relationship between high cholesterol and tendon pain remains unclear in less severe cases, which calls for further research to understand it more accurately.
To delve deeper into the findings, the research team conducted a meta-analysis of previous studies, comprehensively collecting and analyzing data. The researchers relied on six medical databases: MEDLINE, Cochrane, AMED, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus, according to a report published by Surrey Live.
The review included 17 studies with 2,612 participants, and showed that people with tendon changes or pain had higher levels of total cholesterol than others.
One of the researchers said the review's findings "suggest a relationship between blood lipid levels and tendon health," while emphasizing the need for long-term studies to determine whether this relationship is actually causal.
Regarding prevention and lowering cholesterol, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) recommends reducing the consumption of foods high in saturated fats, such as butter, margarine, fatty meats and cheese, with the possibility of replacing them with healthy unsaturated fats found in foods such as avocados.
