Many parts of the body, such as your brain and your adrenal glands depend on cholesterol for their proper function. If the body makes too much cholesterol, it can build up in places where it is harmful. One place where cholesterol causes trouble if it builds up is in the walls of blood vessels. This can make the vessel brittle or can block the flow of blood.
Some people have unusually high levels of cholesterol in their blood.
These people have a higher than average chance of having heart attacks and strokes. The heart attacks are caused by blockages in the blood vessels, or arteries, that nourish the heart muscle. The strokes are often caused when small blood vessels in the brain leak. People who have too much cholesterol in their blood can reduce the chances of having a heart attack or stroke by lowering their cholesterol. You and your family should ask your doctor to check your cholesterol levels.