- It happens slowly and silently, yet cholesterol (in the form of plaque) can build up over time on artery walls and result in some form of heart disease.
- The buildup of plaque on artery walls eventually leads to a thickening or hardening of the artery wall known as artherosclerosis.
- As artery walls become thicker and the openings in the arteries become narrower, less blood flows through the arteries to the heart, which is called coronary heart disease.
- Less blood flow to the heart means less oxygen is carried to the heart. This may cause chest pain, or "angina," an early warning sign of pending heart attacks.
- Reduced or blocked blood flow to the heart results in a heart attack and less flow to the brain results in a stroke.
- While not a direct contributor, high cholesterol plays a role in the formation of gallstones.
