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Warning-sign checks

High blood cholesterol levels: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services for possible heart attack symptoms, such as persistent chest pressure or tightness, pain spreading to an arm or jaw, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath.

    Also call emergency services for possible stroke symptoms, including sudden facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, loss of vision, severe imbalance, or confusion.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact a healthcare service promptly if you develop severe unexplained muscle pain or weakness while taking cholesterol medicine, especially with fever, marked illness, or dark urine.

    Do not wait for these symptoms to pass.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange routine follow-up if a blood test shows high cholesterol.

    This is usually not an emergency.

    Follow-up can confirm the result, look for a cause, assess your overall cardiovascular risk, and discuss treatment.

    Seek a timely appointment if you have a strong family history of early heart attack or stroke, visible tendon deposits, or relatives with familial hypercholesterolaemia.

    These features can suggest inherited high cholesterol.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on High blood cholesterol levels. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.