ITV's resident health expert Dr Amir Khan has offered Lorraine viewers top tips on how to spot a warning sign of elevated cholesterol just by looking at their faces. The GP, who is also a best-selling writer and TV regular explained the tricks during a chat with Lorraine Kelly on her morning show.
Appearing via video link, Dr. Khan told : "The face can tell you a lot about your health actually, so we'll start with the eyes. If you've noticed new white or yellowish lumps around your eyelid, particularly kind of [he gestured towards the eyebrows] around that bony part there, that could be a sign of raised cholesterol."
The warns that risk factors for high cholesterol include poor diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol, and lack of exercise but also notes genetics plays a role too. Left unchecked, high cholesterol can clog up blood vessels, raising the danger of cardiac issues or strokes.
Thankfully, lifestyle improvements can remedy the situation, though some may require medication. Dr Khan told Lorraine fans of other concerning facial symptoms, saying: "If you've noticed your eyelids are droopy, either one or both of them, that could be harmless. It could be normal for you, but if it's new and persistent, get it checked. It could be a problem with the brain, the nerve, or the muscles of the eyes."
He continued: "Moving down to the chin area, if you have excess hair [here] that could be a sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome. That's where you get a hormonal imbalance, raised testosterone."
The doctor also highlighted a key indicator of the autoimmune disease lupus, noting that a red "butterfly-shape" rash under the eyes is often seen in sufferers. Dr Khan pointed out that with lupus, the immune system turns against the body itself.
