Health Tip: The Dangers of Having High Cholesterol

It raises your risk of a host of diseases

May 24, 2011 RSS Feed Print

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(HealthDay News) -- High cholesterol usually refers to above-normal levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein), the so-called "bad cholesterol" that can build up in your arteries and lead to heart disease.

A bad heart may not be the only downside to high cholesterol, however. The Cleveland Clinic says high LDL also increases your risk of:

Stroke.
Peripheral vascular disease (PAD), which occurs when fatty deposits build up in arteries outside the heart and brain, most often in the legs and feet.
Type 2 diabetes.
High blood pressure, since the heart has to work harder to pump blood through clogged arteries.