Some causes of your cholesterol levels spike

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is needed to make hormones and vitamin D, and to help you digest food. Your body produces cholesterol, and it’s also found in some foods.

Your body uses cholesterol to build cells, but too much cholesterol can put you at risk for heart disease.

High blood cholesterol is considered 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher. A healthy level is below 200 mg/dL.

What causes of your cholesterol levels to spike?

It’s important to know which factors can cause your cholesterol to rise faster than others, because consistently high cholesterol levels can increase your risk of certain heart conditions.

Here are six things that can cause your cholesterol to rise faster:

1. Too much coffee

Because of its caffeine content, coffee is often associated with spikes in blood pressure. But coffee can also raise your blood cholesterol levels.

Some studies have shown a link between drinking four cups of coffee a day and increased total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol). But some types of coffee may raise cholesterol faster than others.

To reduce your risk of high cholesterol from coffee, consider limiting your intake of drinks that contain espresso.

2. Psychological stress

Stress and cholesterol levels are also linked. Psychological stress can increase your risk of high LDL and total cholesterol. This may be due to the hormone cortisol, which spikes during times of stress. High levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) have been shown to increase cholesterol in the body.

To reduce your risk of high cholesterol from stress, you can try stress management techniques like exercise, meditation, and breathing exercises.

3. Smoking

Smoking is another possible cause of high cholesterol levels. The cause is nicotine, the main ingredient in tobacco products such as cigarettes. Nicotine reduces the amount of HDL (“good”) cholesterol in the blood, which helps remove LDL cholesterol.

The best way to reduce the risk of high cholesterol caused by smoking is to avoid or quit smoking.

4. Medications

Some medications Trusted Source can have the effect of raising cholesterol in the body. These include prescription drugs such as: amiodarone, danazol, some diuretics, SGLT2 inhibitors, retinoids, anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, antivirals, growth hormones, interferons.

In general, these drugs raise blood cholesterol levels by changing lipid metabolism. Some drugs, such as antipsychotics, can also raise cholesterol by promoting weight gain.

To prevent drug-induced high cholesterol, talk to your doctor. They can determine your risk and, if necessary, change your medication or dosage. There may be another drug in the same class that is less likely to raise your cholesterol levels.

5. Pregnancy

During pregnancy, it is natural for your blood cholesterol to increase by 30% to 40%. This is because cholesterol is essential for the healthy growth and development of your baby. High cholesterol levels during pregnancy are associated with increased levels of estrogen and progesterone, placental lactogen, and insulin resistance. However, cholesterol can increase too much during pregnancy. This condition is called gestational hypercholesterolemia or maternal hypercholesterolemia.

Your doctor can help manage this condition by recommending dietary changes and prescribing lipid-lowering medications.

6. Rapid weight loss

Another potential cause of temporary high cholesterol is rapid weight loss. Research shows that LDL cholesterol levels are likely to spike temporarily before falling back to normal levels. Researchers say this may be related to changes in metabolism. If you want to lose weight, be sure to work with a health care professional. They can help you lose weight safely while also educating you about health-related side effects, such as sudden increases in cholesterol.

Cholesterol Strategy

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