When you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream it is called hypercholesterolemia.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found only in foods that come from animals.
Hypercholesterolemia increases your risk of heart disease. The most common cause of high cholesterol is eating foods that are high in fat. Excess cholesterol causes deposits to form inside blood vessels. These deposits cause the blood vessels to narrow. Blood clots may form in these narrowed vessels and totally stop blood flow.