“LDL transports cholesterol to artery walls and body tissue,” Dr Bovenzi said.
“For this reason, elevated LDL levels are considered a risk to health, as cholesterol build-up can narrow arterial walls.
“Parts of a cholesterol plaque can break off and block smaller arteries downstream, leading to a loss of function of the area supplied by the affected artery.
“When this artery is in the heart, it can lead to a heart attack. In the brain, it is a stroke.”