Why is high cholesterol a problem?
A certain amount of cholesterol is necessary for the normal functioning of your body, but too much of it is dangerous, especially for your heart. A slow build up of cholesterol in the inner linings of the heart’s arteries is one of the main underlying causes of heart disease. Bad cholesterol can build up in arteries, narrowing them and making it harder for blood to flow through. Narrow arteries can become clogged, stopping the flow of blood completely. Clogged arteries may result in a lack of oxygen to the heart (a heart attack) or the brain (a stroke). High blood cholesterol is one of the three main risk factors for heart disease. The other two risk factors are cigarette smoking and high blood pressure.
