Keeping cholesterol levels under control requires maintaining a healthy weight, eating a diet low in fat and cholesterol, not smoking, and getting regular aerobic-type exercise. Managing stress is also important, as stress can affect cholesterol levels. If you are concerned about your level of stress or cholesterol, talk to a health care provider who can recommend the best treatment approach.
Stress
Stress means something different to everyone is not always negative. Some find buying a home or retiring stressful, while for others these are happy events. Stress at a job may challenge you to do better. Stress becomes a health concern when it is constant, interferes with the ability to carry out daily tasks or creates feelings of being out of control of your circumstances, says the American Psychological Association. When the body feels stress, the fight-or-flight syndrome is initiated to help the body deal with the situation. This releases hormones to help you think and react more quickly. If stress occurs only occasionally, it may have no lasting health effects. However, when even low levels of stress become chronic, there may be harmful effects.
Stress Hormones
High levels of cholesterol can lead to a buildup of plaque along the blood vessel walls. As the level of plaque builds, the blood vessels can become hard and narrow, which restricts blood flow to the heart and/or brain and increases the chances of a heart attack or stroke. The effects of stress on the cardiovascular system are not fully understood; but the Texas Heart Institute reports that while stress may not directly cause high cholesterol levels, the hormones released during the stress response can injure the blood vessels, allowing plaque to stick more easily.
Lifestyle Choices
If steps are not taken to manage stress, over time it can indirectly lead to high cholesterol levels. When under stress, you may be more likely to stop exercising, drink more alcohol, smoke, overeat or reach for high-fat foods. All of these unhealthy lifestyle habits can lead to high cholesterol levels, notes the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The goal is to find healthier ways to keep your stress level under control.
Solution
Chronic stress can also contribute to high blood pressure and make it easier for blood clots to form, both of which can raise your risk of a heart attack or stroke, especially if your cholesterol levels are also high. Learning to identify stress triggers, finding ways to avoid or change stressful situations, getting regular exercise, and eating healthfully all help to keep stress levels under control. Practicing yoga, tai chi or one of the many types of relaxation techniques should also be part of your overall plan. The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center suggests learning a technique such as transcendental meditation, which has been shown to lower stress, blood pressure and heart rate, as well as triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
