Two types of dietary cholesterol exist - the "good" and the "bad" kind. The good kind is HDL, or high density lipoprotein. This type of cholesterol, present in such heart-healthy foods such as cold-water fish and canola oil, actually helps remove fats from the blood. The bad cholesterol, LDL, or low density lipoprotein, is present in many of the foods currently implicated in our nationwide obesity epidemic, primarily red meat and foods fried in animal fats. LDL has a number of negative effects in the body.
Arterial Blockage
LDL circulates in the blood, obstructing the vessels and causing atherosclerosis, according to Harvard Medical School. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which LDL forms plaque, a substance that clings to arterial walls and becomes hardened and inflexible. This leads to a narrowing of the passageways through which blood flows, and an inability of the vessels to fully constrict and dilate. The decrease in blood flow caused by atherosclerosis can deprive organs of the oxygen they need to function properly and can lead to additional health complications. Dr. Philip Chua of the Cebu Cardiovascular Center adds that arterial blockage deprives your tissues and organs of oxygen and accelerates the aging process.
Heart Disease
High LDL levels can lead to the obstruction of arteries that supply the heart with blood. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that such a depletion of the heart's normally oxygen-rich blood supply can lead to coronary artery disease, wherein the arteries of the heart are narrowed. This can result in chest, abdominal, neck, back, jaw or arm pain, as well as weakness, excessive sweating and shortness of breath. A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when a lack of blood supply causes heart muscle to die or incur permanent damage.
Stroke
If the arteries that supply the brain are narrowed due to atherosclerosis, the result can be a transient ischemic attack or a stroke. Transient ischemic attacks, or "mini-strokes," occur when an interruption in blood supply causes the brain to stop functioning for a period of less than 24 hours. Symptoms include numbness, confusion, visual disturbances and loss of balance. A stroke occurs when the blood supply stops completely, as when arterial plaque breaks free and travels to the brain, obstructing blood flow. The symptoms are similar to those of a transient ischemic attack, but can cause permanent injury or death.
