How is Cholesterol Related to Increasing Risk of Stroke?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that contributes to the buildup of deposits, known as plaques, within blood vessels.

- Dr Arun Oommen

Plaques can accumulate in the carotid arteries, which supply oxygen to the brain. A stroke can result from the blockage of an artery that supplies oxygen to the brain. Along with high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and obesity, high cholesterol levels are well established as a risk factor for stroke risk.

Cholesterol often gets a bad reputation, but you actually need a certain amount of cholesterol to make substances that are essential for good health, such as:

• bile acids, which help you absorb fat-soluble vitamins
• hormones, like estrogen and androgen
• cell membranes

However, early research in this area has yielded mixed conclusions on the role of cholesterol in stroke. The connection between cholesterol and stroke is complicated because their relationship varies based on the type of stroke and the type of cholesterol involved.

Types of Stroke 

There are two major types of stroke. The most common type of stroke, ischemic stroke, is caused by the blockage of blood flow. The risk factors for ischemic strokes includes high cholesterol. High blood cholesterol levels can specifically increase your risk of an ischemic stroke. That’s because high cholesterol contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. Plaque is a fatty substance that’s made of:

• cholesterol
• cellular waste products
• fibrin
• calcium

Plaque buildup can make your arteries narrower and stiffer. In turn, this can restrict blood flow in your arteries, including the arteries in your brain.