Blood and Cardiovascular diseases Diseases and conditions

Increase in Cholesterol, what are causing Factors?

September 21, 2022 Helal Medical

Some behaviors, (foods, drinks and lifestyle) or conditions can cause an increase in cholesterol, (high cholesterol levels in blood). This includes high coffee intake, stress, rapid weight loss, and other factors.

Why Increase in Cholesterol is important?

Liver has a big contribution to the amount of cholesterol in our bodies, as about 80% of our cholesterol is made in the liver. However, certain health conditions and behaviors can increase the blood cholesterol levels. An increase in blood cholesterol levels is dangerous for our health. As it may It increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

There are many factors and conditions that may result in an increase of cholesterol levels in blood. I will discuss, here, these possible causes.

What is high blood cholesterol?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high blood cholesterol is considered to be 200 milligrams per deciliter (200 mg/dL) or more. A healthy cholesterol level is less than 200 mg/dL.

What can cause Increase in Cholesterol?

A- Long term increase in cholesterol:

1- According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the most common causes of high cholesterol over a long period of time. include:

Eating an unbalanced diet, (unhealthy foods).
Lack of physical activity, (sedentary life), or no exercise.
Being overweight or obese.

How to manage that type of high cholesterol?
Lifestyle changes must be started once you know that you have high cholesterol. These Lifestyle changes may include:
1- changes to your diet, eat healthy foods.
2- Active lifestyle, by adding more physical activity to your daily routine, or start to exercise.
3- Losing weight if you are obese.
4- Stop smoking, if you are smoker.

2- familial hypercholesterolemia. It’s a genetic cause of high cholesterol.

B- causes a sudden increase in Cholesterol

In some cases, cholesterol can jump to high levels in a short time, which is due to many factors. Possible factors that can cause cholesterol to rise more quickly include:

1- High coffee consumption:

caffeine is often linked with rapid increase in blood cholesterol, and result in rapid high spikes in blood pressure. So, coffee (due to its content of caffeine) can increase both blood cholesterol levels as well as blood pressure.
In a small 1-week 2018 study, researchers examined the impact of daily espresso consumption in young adults. “Certainly, higher cholesterol levels have been reported in middle-aged and older coffee drinkers. This study aimed to test if elevated cholesterol levels are also present in younger coffee drinkers.” They found that consuming an average of 4 espressos per day was associated with increased total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, (LDL is the bad type of cholesterol).
This cholesterol raising effect may be due to the diterpenes, in coffee.
In that study, authors noted that espresso-based drinks contain more diterpenes than filtered or instant coffee. So, to minimize the risk of high cholesterol from coffee, consider limiting drinks made with espresso.

2- Stress

A study carried in 2017; “To determine the effects of psychological and physical stress on the lipid profiles.” According to IT (2017 study), stress (especially psychological stress) can raise the risk of having high LDL and total cholesterol. This could be due to increased production of cortisol hormone during stress. High cortisol levels have a cholesterol raising effect on the body, according to a 2020 article.
To reduce the risk of high cholesterol caused by stress, you are advised to practice stress management techniques, such as exercise, meditation, and breathing exercises.

3- Smoking

Smoking is another possible cause of a spike in cholesterol levels. This is due to nicotine, which is the main ingredient in tobacco.
According to a 2021 article, during cigarette smoking, high amounts of nicotine enter the bloodstream via the lungs. This causes the body to release neurotransmitters called catecholamines.
The rise in catecholamines increases lipolysis, or lipid breakdown, which increases LDL cholesterol production. The rise in LDL cholesterol also reduces levels of HDL cholesterol, or “good” cholesterol.
The best way to reduce the risk of smoking-induced high cholesterol is to avoid or quit cigarette smoking.

4- Some medications

Some medication may result in an increase in cholesterol levels in the body, by altering lipid metabolism. The following drugs are some examples:

antihypertensive drugs
beta-blockers
danazol
retinoids
antipsychotics
anticonvulsants
immunosuppressants
antiviral drugs
interferons

5- Pregnancy

Blood cholesterol may increase in pregnant women, which is normal as fetal growth and development require cholesterol. why cholesterol increases during pregnancy? High cholesterol levels during pregnancy are related to increased levels of estrogen and progesterone, placental lactogen and insulin resistance. According to a 2021 scientific article, (Gestational hypercholesterolemia helps detect familial hypercholesterolemia and prevent late pregnancy complications)
However, it’s possible for cholesterol to increase too much during pregnancy. This is called gestational hypercholesterolemia or maternal hypercholesterolemia.

6- Rapid weight loss

Rapid weight loss is another probable cause for increased Cholesterol, according to a study carried in 2019: (Weight Loss and Transient LDL Increase)
, three adults quickly lost weight by following very low-calorie diets. In all three cases, their LDL cholesterol temporarily spiked before dropping to normal levels. According to the researchers, this might be related to changes in metabolism. It will need further prospective studies to help understand lipid metabolism in people losing weight rapidly.

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SUMMARY

Cholesterol is very important for the body, as it is used in many vital metabolic reactions. But it must be kept within accepted levels (normal levels) to keep our body heathy and work properly. It may increase a result of some behaviors or health conditions, which may occur gradually, or rapidly in a short time. As a rule adopting a healthy lifestyle, refrain from drugs, alcohol and exercise will keep cholesterol in normal levels