You choose a delicious sandwich spread from the shelf in the supermarket and you put it down immediately because you see those scary words – cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is what gives cholesterol such a bad rep and it is the cholesterol that your doctor warns you about. It contributes to plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can your clog arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, a heart attack or stroke can result.