High cholesterol may put you at an increased risk of THESE 5 diseases; how to reduce your risk

High cholesterol is a silent illness that can go undiagnosed as it does not usually show symptoms.

According to the UK National Health Services (NHS), high cholesterol occurs when a person develops too much fatty substance, also called LDL cholesterol, in their blood. This in turn makes it difficult for enough blood to flow through the arteries. Some of the most common causes of high cholesterol include a poor lifestyle, unhealthy diet, limited physical movement, smoking and alcohol consumption.

What is dangerous about this silent disease is that it can put you at a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, along with other health complications. That said, here are 5 diseases to watch out for if you have high cholesterol.

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Coronary heart disease is one of the most common illnesses that occurs due to plaque buildup in the wall of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. When fatty deposits develop, it narrows down the arteries - a process called atherosclerosis - restricting the smooth flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart.

There are three types of coronary heart disease, including: obstructive coronary artery disease, nonobstructive coronary artery disease, spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Having high cholesterol can also put you at risk of a heart attack. As discussed, with high cholesterol, one can develop fatty deposits in the blood vessels. These deposits either make it difficult for enough blood to flow through arteries or break down, forming a clot and leading to a heart attack.

PAD or peripheral artery disease is when the arteries narrow down due to the blockage caused by fatty deposit build up in the arteries. It most often affects the lower body, reducing or blocking blood flow in a person’s limbs, particularly the legs, feet and the calf.

Symptoms of PAD include leg numbness or weakness, no or very weak pulse in the legs or feet, shiny skin on the legs, skin color changes on the legs, slower growth of the toenails, sores on the toes, feet or legs that won't heal, and pain when using the arms, such as aching and cramping when knitting, writing or doing other manual tasks.

Besides hampering and blocking the blood vessels in and around the heart, fatty deposits from cholesterol or plaque build up can also narrow certain arteries that lead to your brain. In case it is left untreated, the vessel carrying blood to the brain may be blocked completely, causing a stroke.

Erectile Dysfunction is caused by a number of factors including atherosclerosis, which is a narrowing of the blood vessels. Atherosclerosis is in turn caused by many factors including high cholesterol. That said, researchers have found a possible link between ED and high cholesterol, which is also known as hypercholesterolemia, a lipid disorder in which your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, is too high.

According to the Mayo Clinic, eating a healthy diet that is low in sodium, more in wholesome nutrients is extremely important in lowering one's risk of high cholesterol.

Experts suggest limiting the amount of animal protein and fats and including more or fruits, vegetables and whole grains to one's diet.

Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight are also key.

Furthermore, it is best to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol as these are two of the most common causes of high cholesterol.