What Does Cholesterol Do to the Circulatory System?
High harmful cholesterol, which leads to hindering blood flow, can be caused by dietary cholesterol involving consuming too many animal-based foods that contain saturated fats. It also can be due to hereditary factors, such as your liver producing too much cholesterol for your body’s needs. Too much LDL can cause your blood platelets to become thickened, states the American Heart Association. With time, this thickness leads to your blood becoming sticky and congested. At this point, the health of your blood has become compromised. The thicker your blood, the less oxygen content there is in it. This decreased oxygen level causes your blood to flow less freely through your arteries, capillaries and blood vessels. As your blood thickens due to the excess LDL cholesterol, circulation becomes more difficult. Your blood is not moving through your arteries as intended. Your body requires more energy to carry out circulation.
