When this cholesterol is combined with other chemicals, it can essentially build plaque and raise the risk of heart attacks. It can also lead to heart attack or stroke, which causes the arteries to narrow or get clogged, according to Dr. Rakesh Jain, the Best Cardiac Surgeon in Indore. An excessive amount of cholesterol can clog the artery walls, preventing or decreasing blood flow. Another name for the accumulation of plaque is atherosclerosis.