Cholesterol is a type of fat that is either produced by the liver or consumed through your diet. Cholesterol enters the bloodstream via cells in the liver.
If there is too much cholesterol in the bloodstream, it can contribute to the build-up of fatty, athlerosclerotic plaques in the artery walls.
When cholesterol enters the blood-vessel walls, immune cells are sent to these fatty deposits and transform them into a hard plaque. This causes the walls to thicken, meaning less blood can flow through them at a time. Athlersclerotic plaques can rupture and form blood clots within the arteries, causing a complete block of the artery.
High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease and heart attacks. The good news is that there are many healthy lifestyle choices that you can make to lower your cholesterol, such as reducing your intake of saturated fats and eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
