Symptoms and Complications
LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream can settle as fatty deposits on the inside of your blood vessels. These build up over time to become scars, called plaques. LDL cholesterol also stimulates extra cell growth in the lining of the arteries, reducing their diameter. Plaque can damage and clog the arteries, including the coronary arteries feeding the heart. This process is called atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and can result in angina (chest pain), heart attack, or stroke. High levels of LDL cholesterol cause more plaque buildup and increase the risk of a heart attack.
High cholesterol usually has no obvious symptoms. Like high blood pressure, it's a "silent" condition that offers no early warning. Most people first discover the problem during a routine blood test and physical exam. They often find they have high blood pressure as well. There is an association between the two.
You can get symptoms from the complications of high cholesterol. These include angina and pain in the calves caused by narrowed arteries to the legs. The main complications of high cholesterol are heart disease and stroke.