The body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels of bad cholesterol can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, this deadly mechanism typically operates silently, making it extremely dangerous. However, signs of elevated cholesterol levels can sometimes appear externally, in places like the Achilles tendons.
A study published in the journal *Lipids in Health and Disease* indicates that "the Achilles tendons are the most common sites for tendon xanthomas. Yellow tendon tumors are cholesterol deposits in the tendons, appearing as slowly enlarging deposits or nodules under the skin associated with the tendons." According to researchers in the study, the thickening of the Achilles tendon is an early feature of yellow tendon tumors.
For the study, the researchers sought to examine the relationship between Achilles tendon thickness and levels of bad cholesterol. A total of 205 individuals, aged between 18-75 years, were studied from March 2014 to March 2015 and divided into three groups: a normal group, a borderline group, and a hypercholesterolemia group. The thickness of the Achilles tendon was measured using standardized digital radiography, and the results were compared among the three groups.
The researchers found that the Achilles tendon thickness in the borderline group was significantly higher than in the normal group, and the thickness in the hypercholesterolemia group was much greater than in the other two groups. The researchers concluded that the thickening of the Achilles tendon may serve as a helpful diagnostic indicator for high cholesterol, and it can be used to assess and manage cardiovascular diseases, according to the British Express.
