Cholesterol is a waxy chemical that is an essential part of every cell in your body. Specialized hormones are also synthesized using cholesterol. Typically, cholesterol can either be produced in limited amounts by your body, or it is taken from the food you consume. Your body only needs a little bit of cholesterol to work properly, reports the New York Times Health Guide. High levels of cholesterol can lead to several long-term adverse effects.
Chest Pain
Chronic, or long-term, chest pain has been associated with high cholesterol levels, states MayoClinic.com. The pain is usually located under your breastbone and can radiate to the neck or arms. This pain is linked to blockage of the coronary artery. Occlusion of the coronary artery is called coronary artery disease. High levels of cholesterol can cause coronary artery disease. The pain occurs when the vessel is unable to send blood and oxygen to the heart.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is characterized by damage and progressive occlusion of the blood vessels of your body. High levels of cholesterol can lead to this long-term physiologic effect, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Cholesterol, when in abundant amounts, is able to enter the walls of your blood vessels. Once inside the wall, cholesterol causes inflammation and the formation of a plaque, which grows into the lumen of the vessel. This causes the vessel to become obstructed. Without an open vascular system, your body must work harder to move blood to and from different organs.
Increased Risk for Stroke and Heart Attack
Long-term, high cholesterol levels can increase your risk of suffering from a stroke or heart attack, notes MayoClinic.com. Both conditions are caused by a decrease in the blood supply to a specific organ. If the brain is unable to receive an adequate supply of blood, you develop a stroke, and if it's the heart that's being deprived, then you have a heart attack. By causing a narrowing of the vessels supplying these organs, high cholesterol levels can put you in danger. Both a stroke and a heart attack are potentially life-threatening conditions, which can lead to lifelong complications such as behavioral change, paralysis, heart failure and death.
