You eat a relatively healthy diet and try to stay active, but your doctor has just informed you that you have high cholesterol. An unexpected rise in cholesterol is confusing, especially when you haven’t really changed your usual routine.
But diet and exercise aren’t the only factors that affect your cholesterol levels. Many other factors can affect your numbers and explain the sudden increase, such as a new medication or being under a lot of stress.
At A&U Family Medicine in Sugar Land, Texas, our experienced physician, Dr. Hammad Zaidi, understands the concern you have when your cholesterol is unexpectedly high after years of being within the normal range. Here, we point out some of the reasons you suddenly have high cholesterol.
Feeling more stressed than usual? An increase in stress may explain the sudden increase in cholesterol.
Stress is how your body reacts when facing a challenging situation — it increases heart rate and blood pressure. In short bursts, stress is beneficial. It boosts energy, improves focus, and motivates you to act. Your body’s response to stress is driven by hormones.
In today’s demanding world, many people experience chronic stress, increasing exposure to the stress hormones. Overexposure to these hormones may increase cholesterol production, causing changes in your lipid profile.
Drinking more coffee than usual may also cause high cholesterol. Research has shown an association between high coffee consumption and high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the bad cholesterol.
Coffee isn’t a source of cholesterol or unhealthy fat, but it contains a chemical that may affect LDL cholesterol production. Higher levels of the chemical are found in unfiltered coffee. Switching to filtered coffee lowers exposure and may help improve cholesterol.
Some medications increase cholesterol levels, including corticosteroids, birth control, and beta blockers. A new prescription may explain the higher number.
Dr. Zaidi can talk to you about switching to a different medication if it could benefit your needs and health.
Many women experience a sudden increase in cholesterol when they reach menopause, or in the years leading up to menopause. Estrogen helps control cholesterol levels in the body, and when production declines due to menopause, cholesterol may go up.
Eating a heart-healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight can help manage cholesterol levels and lower your risk of heart disease.
Your sudden high cholesterol level may be a sign of an underlying condition such as hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or lupus. Diagnosing and treating these health conditions may help lower your cholesterol levels and support better health.
No matter the cause of your sudden increase in cholesterol, following a heart-healthy lifestyle is the best way to lower your numbers. If you have concerns about cholesterol and want to know why your numbers are high, we can help.
Call A&U Family Medicine today or book an appointment online.
