What are the health hazards of too much cholesterol?

Excess cholesterol can cause several health hazards and complications that contribute to cardiovascular diseases:

1. Atherosclerosis: Too much cholesterol contributes to the build-up of fatty plaques (atherosclerosis) within the arteries' walls. These plaques restrict blood flow and make it harder for oxygen-rich blood to reach organs and tissues throughout the body. This increased blood pressure to compensate for decreased circulation.

2. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Elevated levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol can increase the risk of hypertension. In arteries with cholesterol build-up, blood flow is restricted, creating added pressure on arterial walls, consequently elevating blood pressure levels.

3. Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction): A severe reduction in blood flow due to blockages (such as blood clots formed around built-up plaque) in the coronary arteries feeding the heart can lead to insufficient oxygen availability for heart muscle fibers. This oxygen deprivation in heart muscle leads to a loss of muscle function (“heart attack”).

4. Stroke: Like heart attacks, cholesterol plaque build-up and arterial narrowing in brain arteries can prevent adequate blood flow and oxygen transport to critical brain areas; consequently, brain cells start to die, causing conditions such as cerebrovascular accident (stroke), temporary ischemic attack (TIA), or chronic cerebrovascular disease.

5. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): This chronic vascular disease involves limited circulation due to plaque formation in vessels leading to body extremities beyond the heart such as limbs, abdomen, kidneys, or lower extremities, causing symptoms like severe leg pain during walks (intermittent claudication). Advanced or severe levels of PAD may warrant surgical interventions or amputations as treatment options.

6. Cardiovascular Death: Chronic elevation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) leads to heightened risks of developing life-threatening heart and artery conditions that might turn fatal if unattended.