Cholesterol is present in every cell of the body. It plays a crucial role when it comes to the digestive system and hormone production. Though cholesterol isn’t necessarily dangerous, high levels of the substance in the blood can put individuals at risk for various complications.

The waxy substance can mix with other substances in the blood and develop plaques that line the blood vessels. This can restrict and block the flow of blood in the body and result in serious and possibly fatal conditions.

In this blog, we’ll discuss in detail the most common diseases that stem from high cholesterol.

Keep reading to find out more.

Coronary Artery Disease

High cholesterol is connected to various diseases that affect the heart, such as coronary artery disease. This condition occurs when the buildup of cholesterol in the coronary arteries causes blockages. As a result, they become narrow and reduce the supply of oxygen and blood to the heart. The condition can also cause the walls of the arteries to become inflamed and hardened. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. It also results in over 655,000 deaths each year.

Atherosclerosis Disease

Individuals with high cholesterol have an increased risk of developing a condition called atherosclerosis. It also causes a buildup of plaques in the arteries, which makes them narrower and restricts blood flow. In some cases, the plaque can also break into smaller pieces that turn into blood clots.

Unfortunately, most individuals don’t know they have atherosclerosis until they have a blockage. This can cause angina, chest pain, and even serious complications such as heart failure, heart attack, and strokes.

Angina Disease

We already know that too much cholesterol can cause the arteries to become narrow. This can result in various diseases, including angina.

The condition causes pain, tightness, squeezing,  pressure, and burning sensation in the chest. This happens when an area of muscles in the heart doesn’t get enough blood oxygen.

Though angina in itself isn’t dangerous, it can resemble symptoms of a heart attack and even lead to heart disease.

Stroke Disease

Those with high cholesterol are also at more risk of getting a stroke. That’s because the blockages in blood flow can lead to an ischemic stroke.

When the plaques of cholesterol collect in one spot, it disturbs blood flow to vital organs. It can result in a stroke if it occurs in the carotid artery located in the neck. This can be fatal because the CDC classifies strokes as one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

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