Why is a high cholesterol level unhealthy?
While some cholesterol is needed for good health, too much cholesterol in your blood can raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The extra cholesterol in your blood may be stored in your arteries (blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body). Buildup of cholesterol in your arteries is known as plaque. It will cause your arteries to narrow and harden (called atherosclerosis). Large deposits of cholesterol can completely block an artery. Cholesterol plaques can also split open, leading to formation of a blood clot that blocks the flow of blood. If an artery that supplies blood to the muscles in your heart becomes blocked, a heart attack can occur. If an artery that supplies blood to your brain becomes blocked, a stroke can occur.
