What happens if cholesterol is too high

Plaque can narrow arteries so less blood can pass through. The formation of plaque changes the makeup of your arterial lining. This could lead to serious complications. A blood test is the only way to know if your cholesterol is too high. Ask your doctor to give you a cholesterol test after you turn 20 years old. Then get your cholesterol rechecked every 4 to 6 years. Your doctor may also suggest you have your cholesterol checked more frequently if you have a family history of high cholesterol.

Or if you demonstrate the following risk factors:. There is a condition passed through genes that causes high cholesterol called familial hypercholesterolemia. They may experience xanthoma , which can appear as a yellow patch above the skin, or a lump underneath the skin. Symptoms of heart disease may be different for men and women. However, heart disease remains the number one killer of both sexes in the United States. The most common symptoms include:. The buildup of plaque caused by high cholesterol can put you at serious risk of having the blood supply to an important part of your brain reduced or cut off.

This is what happens when a stroke occurs. A stroke is a medical emergency. These symptoms include:.

The arteries that supply the heart with blood can slowly narrow due to the buildup of plaque. This process, called atherosclerosis , happens slowly over time and has no symptoms. Eventually, a piece of the plaque can break off. When this happens, a blood clot forms around the plaque. It can block blood flow to the heart muscle and deprive it of oxygen and nutrients. This deprivation is called ischemia. The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction.

According to the American Heart Association , someone in the United States has a heart attack roughly every 34 seconds. High cholesterol alone is not thought to cause erectile dysfunction ED , but plaque-clogged arteries can, because blood flow is essential to an erection, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Both of these factors can lead to ED as well. While stress is not a primary cause of high cholesterol, it may still have an effect on cholesterol levels.

A study published in May in the journal Medicine found that in people who experienced stress due to work or personal conflict, higher stress was a risk factor for high cholesterol. And when you are feeling stressed and pressed for time, you may be less likely to follow heart-healthy lifestyle measures, such as eating a nutritious diet and getting exercise. The study found that regular physical exercise had a strong protective effect against cholesterol.

In addition to statins, which should always be used first, other cholesterol-lowering drugs include fibrates, niacin , PCSK9 inhibitors, bile-acid sequestrants, and cholesterol absorption inhibitors, according to the CDC. If you found out your cholesterol was high after a routine checkup, discuss your test results with your doctor. Your doctor will calculate your individual risk of heart attack or stroke to decide if you should be on a statin.

In some cases, the doctor may recommend giving a healthy diet and active lifestyle a try first. However, if your cholesterol levels remain high, you may need a heart scan to look for plaque buildup in your arteries, and your doctor may prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs to lower your heart-disease and stroke risk.

According to a study published in April in the journal Circulation , a healthy lifestyle — defined as not smoking, doing moderate exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and following a healthy diet — was associated with an average of 14 more years of life for women and 12 for men. Additional reporting by Erica Patino. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. High Cholesterol. By Jennifer J. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood.

Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels of cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease. With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits grow, making it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Sometimes, those deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

High cholesterol can be inherited, but it's often the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices, which make it preventable and treatable. A healthy diet, regular exercise and sometimes medication can help reduce high cholesterol.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute NHLBI , a person's first cholesterol screening should occur between the ages of 9 and 11, and then be repeated every five years after that. The NHLBI recommends that cholesterol screenings occur every one to two years for men ages 45 to 65 and for women ages 55 to People over 65 should receive cholesterol tests annually.

If your test results aren't within desirable ranges, your doctor might recommend more-frequent measurements. Your doctor might also suggest more-frequent tests if you have a family history of high cholesterol, heart disease or other risk factors, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Cholesterol is carried through your blood, attached to proteins. This combination of proteins and cholesterol is called a lipoprotein. There are different types of cholesterol, based on what the lipoprotein carries.

They are:. A lipid profile also typically measures triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood. Having a high triglyceride level also can increase your risk of heart disease. Factors you can control — such as inactivity, obesity and an unhealthy diet — contribute to harmful cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Factors beyond your control might play a role, too. For example, your genetic makeup might make it more difficult for your body to remove LDL cholesterol from your blood or break it down in the liver.

Cholesterol levels can also be worsened by some types of medications you may be taking for other health problems, such as:. If you have too many cholesterol particles in your blood, cholesterol may accumulate on your artery walls. Eventually, deposits called plaques may form. The deposits may narrow — or block — your arteries.

These plaques can also burst, causing a blood clot to form.