Cholesterol can eventually build up on the walls of arteries which create narrowing of the blood vessels. Because they are more narrow, blood pressure increases and your heart has to work overtime to try and pump blood. If there is significant blockage, the blood flow can be cut off creating an infarction. An infarction occurs when blood and oxygen are being cut off to a specific area. This can be in the heart as a heart attack or in the brain as a stroke. Chunks of cholesterol can also break off into the blood stream, called an embolis. This can be especially deadly if it lodges in the heart, lungs, or brain.
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