How does a high cholesterol level contribute to heart disease?
A healthy artery has a smooth even surface inside. When too much cholesterol builds up on the walls of the arteries, plaques start to form. The build up of plaque narrows the artery so your heart must work harder to pump the blood around your body. Plaques limit the blood flow and, if they rupture, can form blood clots. In severe cases plaques can completely block an artery supplying the heart muscle or a major artery supplying the brain. This results in a heart attack or stroke.
