Cholesterol is a wax-like product within the fats in your blood, according to the Mayo Clinic. While your body requires some cholesterol to carry out functions such as building cell walls, your liver might produce an excessive amount of cholesterol or your cells may have trouble removing enough of it from your body. High cholesterol may also be caused by unhealthy habits, such as eating too much red meat or junk food, or not getting enough exercise, says the Mayo Clinic. Getting your cholesterol levels checked regularly will help reduce your risk of potentially fatal health problems.
Atherosclerosis
Your arteries are blood vessels that transport oxygenated blood to important organs such as your heart, brain, kidneys and liver. Atherosclerosis is a harmful accumulation of plaques---which include LDL cholesterol, fat, calcium and other deposits---that harden the arteries and can reduce the amount of blood that flows throughout your body, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease, which typically results from atherosclerosis, is a decreased amount of oxygen-rich blood in the arteries that transport blood to your heart, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. A major symptom of coronary heart disease is angina, also known as chest discomfort or pain. People with angina may feel sensations of pressure, aching, tightness and numbness in the chest; some feel it in the left arm, shoulder, neck, back and jaw, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Women, diabetics and elderly people with coronary heart disease may also experience fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath, according to Medline Plus.
Heart Attack
Plaques in the arteries can burst or tear, releasing fat and cholesterol into the blood and potentially leading to a blood clot. A blood clot that plugs an artery and stops blood flow to a part of the heart may cause chest pain, or often a heart attack. If the blockage isn't treated promptly, the heart attack will cause heart muscle to begin dying, and scar tissue will take its place. According to the American Heart Association, symptoms of a heart attack include pain in the middle of the chest that lasts over a few minutes or is sporadic; discomfort or pain in the neck, jaw, stomach or either or both arms; shortness of breath; cold sweat; lightheadedness; and nausea. Don't wait to call 911.
Disease of the Carotid and Peripheral Arteries
High levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to carotid artery disease, or CAD, which occurs when the arteries that lead to the brain build up with plaque and oxygen-rich blood flow is reduced, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, is reduced oxygen-rich blood flow to the arms, legs and pelvis. Decreased or blocked blood flow to these areas can result in pain, numbness and dangerous infections, says the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Stroke
Like a heart attack, a stroke results from a blood clot blocking blood flow in an artery. However, a stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is stopped or severely reduced, which can cut the brain off from food and oxygen and cause brain cells to die within minutes, according to the Mayo Clinic. According to the American Heart Association, symptoms of a stroke include weakness or numbness of the face, leg or arm, particularly on a single side of the body; confusion and trouble understanding or speaking; vision problems in one or both eyes; severe headache without a known cause; dizziness; and trouble walking or coordinating movements.
