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Warning-sign checks

Hypercholesterolemia: 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 immediately for possible signs of a heart attack or stroke, including:

    • Chest pressure or pain, especially with sweating, nausea, or breathlessness
    • Sudden weakness or numbness on one side
    • Sudden facial drooping
    • New difficulty speaking or understanding speech
    • Sudden severe loss of vision, balance, or coordination
    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 is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • 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 significant new muscle pain or weakness while taking cholesterol medicine.

    Seek urgent assessment if this occurs with dark or cola-coloured urine, fever, or severe illness.

    These symptoms are not proof that high cholesterol caused the problem, but they should not wait for a routine appointment.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange a routine appointment if you have been told your cholesterol is high, have visible cholesterol deposits, or have a close relative with very high cholesterol or early heart disease.

    Routine follow-up is also appropriate if you have questions about results, treatment, or possible medicine side effects.

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