High cholesterol increases the risk of other conditions, depending on which
blood vessels are narrowed or blocked. Some of these diseases include:
Coronary heart disease
The main risk associated with high cholesterol is coronary heart disease (CHD). Your blood
cholesterol level has a lot to do with your chances of getting
heart disease. If your cholesterol is too high, it builds up on the walls of your
arteries. Over time, this buildup (called plaque) causes hardening of the
arteries (atherosclerosis). This condition causes arteries to become
narrowed, slowing blood flow to the heart. The narrowed blood vessels reduce
blood flow to the heart. This can result in angina (chest pain) or in a
heart attack in cases when a blood vessel is blocked completely.
Stroke
Stroke can result if the blood supply to part of the brain is reduced. A
stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain
becomes blocked or bursts. When stroke occurs, part of the brain cannot get the
blood and oxygen it needs, so it starts to die.
Peripheral vascular disease
High cholesterol also has been linked to peripheral vascular disease
(PAD), which refers to diseases of blood vessels outside the heart and
brain. In PAD, fatty deposits build up along artery walls and affect blood
circulation, mainly in arteries leading to the legs and feet.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is another disease linked to high cholesterol because diabetes can
affect the different cholesterol levels. Even if blood sugar control is
good, people with diabetes tend to have increased triglycerides, decreased
HDL, and sometimes increased LDL. This increases the likelihood of developing plaques.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol also are
linked. When the arteries become hardened and narrowed with cholesterol plaque
and calcium (atherosclerosis), the heart has to strain much harder to
pump blood through them. As a result, blood pressure becomes abnormally high.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 9/17/2009...#11918
