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High Blood Cholesterol

Frequently Asked Questions

7. What is atherosclerosis?

Illustration showing artery with atherosclerosis and a normal artery with normal blood flow. - Click to enlarge in new window.
Click to enlarge image

Cholesterol can build up in the walls of your arteries. This buildup of cholesterol is called plaque. Over time, the plaque can build up so much that the arteries become narrower. This is called atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. It can slow down or block the flow of blood to your heart.