Stress and cholesterol: how are they related?

Do you think stress and cholesterol have any relationship? How can they relate? As science has shown, it seems that Suffering from long-term stress could increase levels of so-called bad cholesterol in blood. But why does this happen? What happens in our body that can increase the levels of this substance?

We are going to resolve these questions through some studies that have tried to shed some light on this topic. What is clear is that both stress and bad cholesterol can, to a certain extent, be prevented., especially through a healthy life that includes a balanced diet and frequent physical exercise. Point out here that although it is true that stressful situations cannot always be avoided, we can learn to manage them in such a way that they do not cause us so much discomfort.

Stress and cholesterol: how are they related?

Before explaining the possible relationship between stress and cholesterol, we will briefly describe the concept of cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is popularly called bad cholesterol. But what is it exactly?

Cholesterol itself is a waxy, fat-like substance, specifically a lipoprotein. (which combines fats and proteins). It is found in all cells of the body. The liver produces cholesterol, but we can also find it in some foods (such as meat or dairy products).

LDL cholesterol is low density; It is called bad cholesterol because having high levels of it leads to a buildup of cholesterol on the walls of the arteries. What this does is make it difficult for blood to circulate properly to the heart. It is for this reason that having high levels of this type of cholesterol increases the probability of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, which makes it necessary to monitor it.

Ideally, we should have an LDL cholesterol level below 100 mg/dL. (a level greater than 160 mg/dL would already be considered too high). On the other hand, there is also the so-called good cholesterol. Good cholesterol (HDL, high-density cholesterol) is that which transports cholesterol from other parts of the body to the liver. In turn, it is the liver that eliminates this cholesterol from the body.

Relationship between stress and cholesterol

Science has discovered that stress and cholesterol are related, but… in what way? First of all, remember here that having high cholesterol levels can lead to health problems. In the same way, suffering from intense and continuous stress (so-called chronic stress) is not at all beneficial for our health, both physically and mentally.

According to research, Being stressed could increase cholesterol levels. We are talking, in these cases, about the so-called bad cholesterol (which is harmful to our health). This cholesterol is also called LDL cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein).

In a research carried out with a sample of 90,000 people, it was found that People who reported experiencing stress at work were more likely to have high cholesterol. This could be related to the fact that the body, when stressed, releases cortisol (“the stress hormone”) and long-term high levels of cortisol could, in turn, increase bad cholesterol.

The influence of stress on increased cholesterol

How does stress influence increased cholesterol? First of all, we are going to specify some prior clarifications and little by little we will explain the relationship between stress and cholesterol. When we get stressed, the body needs more energy, which it obtains through glucose and fat..

On the other hand, In stressful situations, the liver becomes congested, which interferes with its correct metabolism. This causes more low-density lipoprotein to be released, which is what transports bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) into the bloodstream.

Besides, Stress causes the production of other substances in the body to increase, such as: interleukin 6, C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor. These substances intervene directly in the production of inflammatory processes and also promote the formation of atheromas (small lesions) in the arterial walls.

When we are stressed, in addition, the heart, brain and lungs are the three organs that receive a greater flow of blood. This way, Stress would increase blood cholesterol levelsbut it would also produce an increase in the following:

Blood glucose. Coagulation. Heart rate. Blood pressure. Anxiety.

Affectation of other processes

The aforementioned processes also influence the cardiovascular system and the person’s quality of life. In reality, we are talking about a complex, but interconnected system, in which everything feeds back, So taking care of our daily lives by avoiding unnecessary stress will help us keep cholesterol levels at bay..

All this, yes, combining it with maintaining other healthy habits, such as a healthy and balanced diet or daily exercise. On the other hand, avoiding certain unhealthy habits, such as smoking or drinking alcohol, will also help us enjoy good health, which will always be beneficial for our cholesterol.

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