Cholesterol does NOT cause hardening of the arteries.
Chronic Inflammation CAUSES hardening of the arteries.
I am 65, with high cholesterol since i was 25 (that’s 40 years). I get a scan every year. They grade it based on how little plaque is in my arteries. 100 is none detected, and 0 is you have all your arteries clogged (you would be dead long before that).
I am VERY careful about inflammation. I take natural anti-inflammatory supplements, and avoid inflammatory foods and exposures. Do some research about why the body produces cholesterol.
If you are on statins, that’ really bad. You should address the inflammation, which will allow your body to not plaque out even in the presence of high cholesterol.
BTW, my score is always in the 98-100 range.
Phrasing.
High cholesterol does not CAUSE hardening of the arteries. Cholesterol is the material required for hardening of the arteries.
The cells that make up the artery wall do not suddenly become hard. It is the interior of the artery that accumulates this plaque which is mostly cholesterol and a mixture of dead cells. That’s stiffens the wall and that is hardening and that elevates blood pressure.