Low-density lipoprotein, LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, can accumulate in the body and eventually lead to health problems. Fortunately, you may never have to worry about those health problems if you treat your high cholesterol early on, says the American Heart Association. Early detection is important because you may have high "bad" cholesterol and never know it until you develop an associated health problem.
Hardened Arteries
When you have too much "bad" cholesterol in your blood, the cholesterol accumulates on the inner walls of your arteries, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Cholesterol combines with substances such as calcium and cellular waste products to form a substance called plaque, which causes the arteries to harden in a condition known as atherosclerosis, according to the American Heart Association. The plaque can cause your arteries to narrow significantly. If the arteries that lead to your heart are narrowed, your heart may not get enough oxygen-rich blood; this can cause shortness of breath, a squeezing pain in your chest and pain in the shoulders, neck, arms, jaw or back, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Heart Attack
A cholesterol plaque may rupture and cause a blood clot. If a heart artery is blocked by a blood clot, a heart attack occurs. The less blood that flows to your heart, the more damage that is done to your heart, according to MayoClinic.com; immediate medical intervention may save your life. Signs of a heart attack include: pain or squeezing discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts over a few minutes or comes and goes, cold sweat, faintness, nausea and pain in the neck, back, jaw, stomach or at least one arm, according to the American Heart Association.
Stroke
If blood becomes blocked to an artery to your brain, you will have a stroke. Just as with a heart attack, blocked oxygenated blood can lead to brain tissue damage. Signs of a stroke include: numb or weak face, leg or arm -- particularly on one side of your body -- confusion, speaking or understanding trouble, vision problems, walking trouble, dizziness, imbalance and severe headache, according to the American Heart Association.
Heart Failure
Atherosclerosis can lead you to have high blood pressure, which, in time, can lead to heart failure, according to the American Heart Association. Heart failure is when your heart can't keep up with your body's needs; the heart's ventricles may not fill up properly in between heart beats, the heart muscle may become weaker and the heart may have trouble pumping blood throughout the body, according to MayoClinic.com.
Circulation Problems
Atherosclerosis can also cause reduced blood flow to your extremities. This condition, called peripheral artery disease, can cause symptoms such as leg pain while walking, according to MayoClinic.com.
Aneurysm and Internal Bleeding
Having plaque on your artery walls can lead to high blood pressure, which can ultimately lead a wall of the artery to bulge. This bulge is called an aneurysm. If it bursts, it causes internal bleeding that may be fatal, according to MayoClinic.com. A rupture typically causes an immediate burst but it may also cause a slow leak.
