What happends when you have high chloestrol?

High Cholesterol: The effects of high cholesterol really depends on many factors. Other diseases like diabetes and hypertension play a big role on the effects of high cholesterol. The dangers are mainly vascular plaque build up or atherosclerosis. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. The best treatment is prevention at an early age. Talk to your doctor about your cholesterol numbers.

Two Answers: In the short term, high cholesterol (specifically very high triglycerides) can cause pancreatitis, making you quite sick. In the long term, high cholesterol (especially ldl) will cause buildup in the arteries throughout the body leading to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, erectile dysfunction, etc... Best to keep it under control early.