Usually, the health effects of cholesterol problems develop over the course of many years. The most serious effects are due to a condition called atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing and hardening of arteries. Other negative health effects of cholesterol problems may include angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Lowering cholesterol is the best way to prevent or control these problems.
Health Effects of Cholesterol: An Introduction
Health Effects of Cholesterol: Understanding Plaque and Atherosclerosis
The health effects of cholesterol problems are due to a condition called
atherosclerosis, which is narrowing and hardening of arteries. If your levels of cholesterol are too high,
LDLs (low density lipoproteins) will leave extra cholesterol in the blood. If the
HDLs (high density lipoproteins) cannot pick up all of this cholesterol, it will begin to build up on your artery walls, along with other fats and debris. This buildup of cholesterol is called
plaque. Over time, plaque can cause narrowing of the arteries, or atherosclerosis.
Specific Health Effects of High Cholesterol
Atherosclerosis can affect any blood vessel in the body.
Therefore, the health effects of high cholesterol due to atherosclerosis include:
These potential health effects of high cholesterol will depend on whether the atherosclerosis partially or completely blocks the artery. It most commonly affects the arteries in the heart in people with high cholesterol.
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