What are the causes of high cholesterol?
Eating too many foods high in cholesterol, saturated fats and trans fats may increase your risk of developing high cholesterol. Having obesity can also increase your risk. Other lifestyle factors that may contribute to high cholesterol include inactivity and smoking.
Your genes can also affect your chances of developing high cholesterol. Genes are passed from parents to children. Certain genes direct how your body handles cholesterol and fat. If your parents have high cholesterol, you may also be at greater risk.
In rare cases, high cholesterol is caused by familial hypercholesterolemia. This genetic disorder prevents your body from removing LDL. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, most adults with this disorder have total cholesterol levels above 300 milligrams per deciliter and LDL levels above 200 milligrams per deciliter.
Other health conditions, such as diabetes and hypothyroidism, may also increase your risk of developing high cholesterol and related complications.
12 Causes of High Cholesterol
Excessive stress is one of the causes of high cholesterol
Chronic stress can cause many health problems, including high cholesterol. Studies show that it increases your risk of developing high LDL ("bad") cholesterol and lowers HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. This is because stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, trigger changes that can lead to higher blood sugar and inflammation. Over time, this may cause your liver to excrete more cholesterol and blood fats called triglycerides.
Unfiltered coffee is one of the causes of high cholesterol
The habit of French press, Turkish coffee or espresso may be making your cholesterol high. These coffees do not use filters, so the oily compounds in the beans called diterpenes can seep into your cup. These oils can raise LDL cholesterol. While one or two cups a day is fine, experts recommend no more than four cups of unfiltered coffee a day.
Medications are a cause of high cholesterol
Some medications may have an unexpected effect on your cholesterol. These include certain birth control pills, vitamin A analogs, corticosteroids, antivirals, and anticonvulsants. Some medications for high blood pressure, such as diuretics and older forms of beta-blockers, can also raise your cholesterol. Discuss any medications you take with your doctor. You may need a completely different dose or another medication.
Thyroid problems as a cause of high cholesterol
Your body uses thyroid hormones to help remove extra cholesterol that it doesn't need. Therefore, when you have low thyroid function or hypothyroidism, your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels will rise. If you have symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, dry skin, muscle weakness and pain, consult your doctor. Blood tests can screen for the condition.
Type 2 diabetes is one of the causes of high cholesterol
Type 2 diabetes can lead to high blood sugar. When there is too much sugar, it can attach to proteins, such as cholesterol molecules. This makes cholesterol more harmful. For example, people with type 2 diabetes tend to have more small, dense LDL particles, which can increase the risk of heart disease. They also have lower amounts of protective HDL cholesterol. This cholesterol may not do a good job of removing the "bad" cholesterol.
Menopause as a cause of high cholesterol
The sex hormone estrogen affects your cholesterol levels. When estrogen drops after menopause, your cholesterol rises. Studies show that LDL and total cholesterol levels rise around the time of your end. To make matters worse, women gain an average of 8 to 10 pounds after menopause. They also stop exercising, which increases the risk of high cholesterol.
Sitting for long periods of time is one of the causes of high cholesterol
Sitting for hours on end, whether at a desk or on the couch, is bad for your health. It has been linked to obesity, heart disease and high cholesterol. When you sit for too long, an enzyme that converts harmful LDL cholesterol into good HDL cholesterol drops by 95%. To protect your heart, take frequent breaks. Stand at least every 30 minutes, and if you can, walk 5 minutes every hour.
Liver problems are a cause of high cholesterol
Your liver makes, processes and breaks down cholesterol. When your liver is not working properly, it affects your cholesterol levels. One of the most common diseases is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which occurs when excess fat is stored in the liver. It affects nearly one in four adults. The more serious form is called NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis). It causes swelling and scarring of the liver and leads to cirrhosis.
Excessive alcohol intake is one of the causes of high cholesterol
In addition to processing cholesterol, your liver breaks down alcohol. So, when you drink too much, it affects your cholesterol. One study found that men who drank heavily - about 4.5 drinks or more at a time - had worse cholesterol levels compared to those who didn't drink. The same is true for those who binge drink only occasionally. If you drink, keep it moderate - no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men.
Pregnancy is a cause of high cholesterol
During pregnancy, your body uses cholesterol to help your fetus grow and develop. That's why your cholesterol levels may rise by up to 50% in the middle and late stages of pregnancy. They can stay high for about a month after birth. This temporary spike usually doesn't hurt mom or baby. But if you already have high cholesterol, your doctor will want to keep track of your levels.
Kidney problems as a cause of high cholesterol
Cholesterol can affect the way your kidneys work. Studies show that high cholesterol may damage kidney function and increase the risk of kidney disease. Kidney problems, on the other hand, may increase your cholesterol levels. Studies show that nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disease, increases your LDL and total cholesterol levels. Chronic kidney disease can also lower your HDL levels.
High-sugar diets are a cause of high cholesterol
Saturated fats are often blamed as the main dietary cause of heart disease. But too much sugar is also a culprit. Diets high in sweet foods cause your liver to produce more LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and reduce HDL cholesterol. One study found that people who got 10 percent or more of their calories from added sugar were three times more likely to have low HDL levels than those who consumed less than half.
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