Excess cholesterol and fatty substances, triglyceride (TG), in the bloodstream is deemed hyperlipidemia. When the cholesterol level is too high, it is easier to incur atherosclerosis, which increases the opportunity of getting coronary artery disease.

Another way your cholesterol numbers can be out of balance is when your HDL (good) cholesterol level is too low. With less HDL to remove cholesterol from your arteries, your risk of atherosclerotic plaque and blockages increases. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) involves plaque buildup in arterial walls which includes conditions such as acute coronary syndrome and peripheral artery disease, and can cause a heart attack, stable or unstable angina, stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or aortic aneurysm.