HEALTH TIP

the Effects of
High Cholesterol
on the Body

High cholesterol in your blood can interfere with blood flow throughout your body.

Cholesterol travels throughout your body in your bloodstream. Good cholesterol transports bad cholesterol back to the liver. Read more.

It Starts in Your Liver

Artery Dumping Ground

Chest Pain

Heart Attack

Numbness in the Legs

Bloody Stools

On the Move in Your Blood

Plaque Buildup

Jaw Pain

Blockage in the Brain

Gallstones

The Effects of High Cholesterol on the Body

Our bodies need healthy levels of cholesterol to function. Cholesterol is a fatty substance made by the liver and distributed throughout the body. It allows our bodies to make vitamin D and hormones, and makes up bile acids. We also get less than 25 percent of our body’s cholesterol from the foods we eat, especially animal fats.

High cholesterol means you have a lot more cholesterol in your blood than you need. Most people who have high cholesterol don’t have any obvious symptoms. A simple blood test can tell you if you have high cholesterol. If you do have high cholesterol, dietary changes, exercise, and targeted medications can help lower it and reduce your risk of developing heart disease.