Medicine & Health
How does cholesterol affect your body?
Cholesterol travels through your blood on two carriers. LDL drops cholesterol off in artery walls, where too much builds sticky plaque that narrows the vessel. HDL picks it back up and carries it to the liver for disposal — which is why the balance matters.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how cholesterol works.
Step by step
- 1Cholesterol moves through blood on LDL and HDL carriers.
- 2LDL deposits it in artery walls as plaque.
- 3Plaque narrows arteries and slows blood flow.
- 4HDL removes cholesterol back to the liver.
Frequently asked questions
- How does cholesterol clog arteries?
- Excess LDL cholesterol seeps into artery walls and builds up as plaque, which narrows and stiffens the vessel over time.
- How does HDL help?
- HDL collects extra cholesterol from the blood and tissues and carries it to the liver to be removed.
- Can I change my cholesterol?
- Yes — diet, exercise, and, when needed, medication can lower LDL and support healthier levels.