Cholesterol is necessary to the functioning of all human cells and structures. However, when total cholesterol levels exceed 200 mg per deciliter of blood, a diagnosis of high cholesterol may be warranted. High cholesterol, or hyperlipidemia, may go undetected for years as it is asymptomatic. Eventually, physical manifestations of the high cholesterol may show up due to the excess of this fatty substance in the blood.
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Also known as PVD, peripheral vascular disease encompasses a range of medical diagnoses including atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. Atherosclerosis involves a deposit of fats, such as cholesterol, in the arterial walls over time. Physical effects of this disease include coolness with or without pain, hair loss and swelling of the extremities. Untreated atherosclerosis can lead to heart disease and blood clots.
High Blood Pressure
Untreated high cholesterol levels can lead to high blood pressure. As cholesterol levels remain increased, damage and plaques in the arterial walls are reflected in blood pressure. Blood pressure is a measurement of the pressure required by the heart to pump blood to the body through the arterial system. Cholesterol deposits in the arteries restrict their flexibility, which may be reflected in an elevation of that top number of the blood pressure reading.
Carotid Stenosis
The heart pumps freshly oxygenated blood to the brain through the two carotid arteries, sitting on both sides of the neck. Carotid stenosis occurs when cholesterol deposits harden and clog these important arteries over time. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that untreated high cholesterol, especially when paired with smoking, can lead to carotid stenosis. This condition is the gateway to further bodily damage such as a stroke, otherwise referred to as a cerebral vascular accident.
