These deposits, called plaque, are made of fats carried by the bloodstream. Atherosclerosis, a condition in which blood vessels become hardened and narrowed by the fatty deposits, may result. Atherosclerosis causes decreased blood flow. Blood clots may form in these narrowed vessels and totally stop blood flow. When this happens in the heart it causes a heart attack.
Atherosclerosis causes more deaths from heart disease than any other single condition.
Hypercholesterolemia is a silent disease. There are often no symptoms until complications have already developed, such as the chest pain of a heart attack or calf pain with walking, which may be caused by narrowed or blocked arteries to the legs. The doctor will order a blood test to check your cholesterol level. These lab tests usually measure your total cholesterol level. They may also include LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.