Wysoki poziom cholesterolu – Etiologia i przyczyny

Wysoki poziom cholesterolu
Etiologia i przyczyny

Hipercholesterolemia definiowana jest jako stężenie całkowitego cholesterolu >200 mg/dl lub podwyższony poziom LDL, stanowiąc istotny czynnik ryzyka chorób sercowo-naczyniowych, w tym choroby wieńcowej, udaru mózgu i chorób tętnic obwodowych. Etiologia jest wieloczynnikowa, obejmująca zarówno uwarunkowania genetyczne, jak rodzinna hipercholesterolemia (FH) – najczęściej spowodowana mutacjami w genie receptora LDL (odpowiedzialna za ≥85% przypadków FH, występująca u 1 na 200-250 osób) – jak i czynniki środowiskowe. Do genetycznych przyczyn zalicza się także rodzinne hiperlipidemie i hipertriglicerydemie. Styl życia, w tym dieta bogata w tłuszcze nasycone i trans, nadmierne spożycie cukru, brak aktywności fizycznej, otyłość, palenie tytoniu oraz nadmierne spożycie alkoholu, znacząco wpływają na podwyższenie poziomu LDL i obniżenie HDL. Czynniki demograficzne (wiek, płeć) oraz choroby współistniejące, takie jak cukrzyca, niedoczynność tarczycy, przewlekła choroba nerek, choroby wątroby, toczeń czy PCOS, również modulują profil lipidowy. Ponadto, niektóre leki (kortykosteroidy, retinoidy, beta-blokery, diuretyki tiazydowe) i przewlekły stres mogą podnosić poziom cholesterolu LDL.

Etiologia Wysokiego Poziomu Cholesterolu

Czynniki genetyczne
Styl życia i dieta
Palenie tytoniu i alkohol
Wiek i płeć
Choroby współtowarzyszące
Leki jako przyczyna wysokiego cholesterolu
Stres przewlekły

Nagłe zmiany poziomu cholesterolu
Wpływ wysokiego cholesterolu na organizm
Podsumowanie etiopatogenezy wysokiego cholesterolu

Kolejne rozdziały

Etiologia Wysokiego Poziomu Cholesterolu

Wysoki poziom cholesterolu (hipercholesterolemia) to stan, w którym stężenie cholesterolu we krwi przekracza wartości prawidłowe. Występuje, gdy poziom całkowitego cholesterolu przekracza 200 mg/dl lub gdy poziom cholesterolu LDL (lipoproteiny o niskiej gęstości) jest zbyt wysoki. Hipercholesterolemia stanowi istotny czynnik ryzyka chorób sercowo-naczyniowych, takich jak choroba wieńcowa, udar mózgu i choroba tętnic obwodowych¹². Przyczyny wysokiego poziomu cholesterolu są złożone i obejmują zarówno czynniki genetyczne, jak i środowiskowe.

Czynniki genetyczne

Genetyka odgrywa znaczącą rolę w determinowaniu poziomu cholesterolu we krwi. Podobne poziomy cholesterolu u członków rodziny sugerują, że geny mogą podwyższać ryzyko występowania niezdrowych poziomów cholesterolu³. Najpowszechniejszym zaburzeniem genetycznym powodującym wysoki poziom cholesterolu jest rodzinna hipercholesterolemia (FH).

Rodzinna hipercholesterolemia to dziedziczny stan powodujący bardzo wysoki poziom cholesterolu LDL. Jest wynikiem mutacji w genach, które są przekazywane od rodziców do dzieci⁴⁵. FH występuje u około 1 na 200-250 osób⁶. Osoby z FH mają podwyższony poziom cholesterolu od urodzenia, co może prowadzić do wczesnego rozwoju problemów z sercem, takich jak miażdżyca i choroba wieńcowa⁷.

Najczęstszą przyczyną FH (odpowiedzialną za co najmniej 85% przypadków) są mutacje genu kodującego receptor LDL, co powoduje zmniejszoną zdolność wątroby do usuwania cholesterolu LDL z krwioobiegu⁸. Inne mutacje genetyczne mogą również powodować FH, w tym mutacje w genach kodujących apolipoproteinę B (APOB) oraz konwertazę proproteinową subtylizyny/keksyny typu 9 (PCSK9)⁹¹⁰.

Oprócz rodzinnej hipercholesterolemii, inne genetyczne przyczyny wysokiego cholesterolu obejmują¹¹:

Rodzinną hiperlipidemię (wysokie poziomy lipidów)
Rodzinną hipertriglicerydemię (wysokie poziomy triglicerydów)

Styl życia i dieta

Czynniki stylu życia są najczęstszą przyczyną wysokiego poziomu cholesterolu u większości osób¹². Niezdrowy styl życia sprawia, że organizm produkuje więcej cholesterolu LDL niż potrzebuje.

Dieta odgrywa kluczową rolę w regulacji poziomu cholesterolu. Spożywanie pokarmów bogatych w tłuszcze nasycone i tłuszcze trans może zwiększać produkcję cholesterolu LDL przez wątrobę¹³. Źródła tych tłuszczów obejmują¹⁴:

Tłuste mięsa i wędliny
Masło, śmietanę, lody
Olej kokosowy i olej palmowy
Większość smażonych potraw typu fast-food
Komercyjnie wypiekane produkty (np. ciasta, ciastka, bułki i wyroby cukiernicze)

Nadmierne spożycie cukru również może podnosić poziom cholesterolu LDL i triglicerydów. Badanie 15-letnie wykazało, że uczestnicy, którzy przyjmowali 25% lub więcej dziennych kalorii w postaci cukru, mieli ponad dwukrotnie większe prawdopodobieństwo śmierci z powodu choroby serca, z cholesterolem odgrywającym kluczową rolę¹⁵.

Brak aktywności fizycznej jest kolejnym istotnym czynnikiem. Siedzący tryb życia obniża poziom dobrego cholesterolu HDL i podnosi poziom złego cholesterolu LDL¹⁶. Regularna aktywność fizyczna pomaga podnosić poziom HDL i obniżać poziom LDL¹⁷.

Nadwaga i otyłość również przyczyniają się do wysokiego poziomu cholesterolu. Nadmiar tkanki tłuszczowej, zwłaszcza wokół talii, zmienia sposób, w jaki organizm przetwarza cholesterol¹⁸¹⁹. Osoby z otyłością mają tendencję do wyższych poziomów triglicerydów, wyższych poziomów cholesterolu LDL i niższych poziomów cholesterolu HDL²⁰.

Palenie tytoniu i alkohol

Palenie tytoniu ma znaczący negatywny wpływ na poziom cholesterolu. Palenie²¹:

Obniża poziom dobrego cholesterolu HDL
Powoduje odkładanie się smoły w tętnicach, ułatwiając przyleganie cholesterolu do ścian tętnic
Zwiększa ryzyko miażdżycy i chorób serca

Nadmierne spożycie alkoholu może również podnosić poziom cholesterolu i triglicerydów²². Regularne spożywanie alkoholu może zwiększać poziom triglicerydów i prowadzić do uszkodzenia wątroby, co dodatkowo wpływa na metabolizm cholesterolu²³.

Wiek i płeć

Czynniki demograficzne, takie jak wiek i płeć, również wpływają na poziom cholesterolu²⁴:

Wraz z wiekiem ryzyko wysokiego cholesterolu wzrasta, ponieważ wątroba staje się mniej efektywna w usuwaniu cholesterolu LDL z krwi²⁵. Wysoki cholesterol jest najczęściej diagnozowany u osób w wieku od 40 do 59 lat²⁶.

W przypadku płci, mężczyźni w wieku od 20 do 39 lat mają większe ryzyko wysokiego całkowitego cholesterolu niż kobiety²⁷. Jednak po menopauzie ryzyko u kobiet wzrasta z powodu spadku poziomu estrogenów, które mogą chronić przed wysokim poziomem cholesterolu²⁸²⁹. Po menopauzie poziom całkowitego cholesterolu i cholesterolu LDL u kobiet zwykle wzrasta, podczas gdy poziom dobrego cholesterolu HDL spada.

Choroby współtowarzyszące

Liczne schorzenia medyczne mogą prowadzić do podwyższonego poziomu cholesterolu³⁰:

Cukrzyca: Cukrzyca typu 1 i typu 2 podwaja ryzyko choroby wieńcowej i choroby tętnic obwodowych. Wysoki poziom cukru we krwi może powodować przyłączanie się cukru do cząsteczek cholesterolu, co czyni cholesterol bardziej szkodliwym³¹. Cukrzyca obniża poziom dobrego cholesterolu HDL i podnosi poziom złego cholesterolu LDL³².

Niedoczynność tarczycy: Organizm wykorzystuje hormony tarczycy do usuwania nadmiaru cholesterolu. Przy niedoczynności tarczycy poziom całkowitego cholesterolu i cholesterolu LDL wzrasta³³.

Choroby nerek: Przewlekła choroba nerek powoduje szybsze odkładanie się blaszek miażdżycowych w tętnicach³⁴. Zespół nerczycowy również może powodować wzrost poziomu cholesterolu³⁵.

Choroby wątroby: Wątroba produkuje, przetwarza i rozkłada cholesterol. Kiedy wątroba nie działa prawidłowo, może to wpływać na poziom cholesterolu³⁶. Cholestaza (zastój żółci) może prowadzić do podwyższenia poziomu cholesterolu³⁷.

Choroby autoimmunologiczne: Toczeń zwiększa ryzyko rozwoju choroby wieńcowej, ponieważ powoduje, że organizm znajduje się w stanie przewlekłego stanu zapalnego. Ten stan zapalny prowadzi do szybszego odkładania się blaszek miażdżycowych w tętnicach³⁸.

Zespół policystycznych jajników (PCOS): Osoby z PCOS mają większe ryzyko chorób serca i zaburzeń lipidowych³⁹.

Leki jako przyczyna wysokiego cholesterolu

Niektóre leki mogą podnosić poziom cholesterolu LDL lub obniżać poziom cholesterolu HDL⁴⁰. Do tych leków należą⁴¹⁴²:

Kortykosteroidy
Retinoidy
Leki przeciwwirusowe (szczególnie stosowane w leczeniu HIV/AIDS)
Niektóre tabletki antykoncepcyjne
Leki przeciwdrgawkowe
Diuretyki tiazydowe
Cyklosporyna i takrolimus
Beta-blokery

Stres przewlekły

Przewlekły stres może negatywnie wpływać na zdrowie i przyczyniać się do wysokiego poziomu cholesterolu⁴³. Stres wyzwala zmiany hormonalne związane z produkcją cholesterolu⁴⁴. Badania wykazują, że zwiększa on ryzyko wysokiego poziomu cholesterolu LDL i obniża poziom cholesterolu HDL⁴⁵.

Hormony stresu, takie jak adrenalina i kortyzol, mogą wywoływać zmiany prowadzące do stanu zapalnego i wyższego poziomu cukru we krwi. Z czasem powoduje to, że wątroba produkuje więcej cholesterolu i triglicerydów⁴⁶.

Nagłe zmiany poziomu cholesterolu

Niektóre czynniki mogą powodować nagły wzrost poziomu cholesterolu⁴⁷:

Ciąża: W czasie ciąży naturalne jest zwiększenie poziomu cholesterolu we krwi o 30-40%⁴⁸. Jest to związane ze wzrostem poziomu hormonów, które mogą wpływać na metabolizm lipidów⁴⁹.

Gwałtowna utrata wagi: Szybka utrata masy ciała może być potencjalną przyczyną tymczasowego wzrostu poziomu cholesterolu⁵⁰. Badanie z 2019 roku wskazuje na przypadki, w których osoby tracące wagę podczas medycznego programu odchudzania doświadczały nagłego wzrostu poziomu cholesterolu LDL⁵¹.

Nadmierne spożycie kawy: Badanie z 2018 roku podkreśla związek między nadmiernym spożyciem kawy a wysokim poziomem cholesterolu. Może to być spowodowane zawartością diterpenów w kawie, które mogą podnosić poziom cholesterolu⁵².

Wpływ wysokiego cholesterolu na organizm

Wysoki poziom cholesterolu, szczególnie LDL, prowadzi do odkładania się blaszek miażdżycowych wewnątrz ścian naczyń krwionośnych, co powoduje ich zwężenie i utrudnia przepływ krwi⁵³. Ten proces, nazywany miażdżycą, może prowadzić do⁵⁴:

Choroby wieńcowej (gdy blaszki miażdżycowe znajdują się w tętnicach serca)
Choroby tętnic szyjnych (gdy blaszki są w tętnicach szyjnych)
Choroby tętnic obwodowych (gdy blaszki są w tętnicach nóg i brzucha)
Zawału serca (gdy tętnice wieńcowe zostają całkowicie zablokowane)
Udaru mózgu (gdy zablokowane są naczynia krwionośne w szyi lub mózgu)

Badania pokazują, że osoby z poziomem cholesterolu LDL wynoszącym 130 mg/dl lub wyższym mają nawet 50% zwiększone ryzyko zdarzeń sercowo-naczyniowych i śmiertelności⁵⁵. Wysoki cholesterol powoduje 4,4 miliona zgonów rocznie, czyli 7,8% wszystkich zgonów⁵⁶.

Podsumowanie etiopatogenezy wysokiego cholesterolu

Wysoki poziom cholesterolu może wynikać z wielu różnych czynników, które często współdziałają ze sobą. Podczas gdy niektóre przyczyny, takie jak genetyka, wiek i płeć, nie podlegają modyfikacji, inne czynniki, takie jak dieta, aktywność fizyczna, palenie tytoniu i spożycie alkoholu, można kontrolować poprzez zmianę stylu życia⁵⁷.

Zrozumienie przyczyn wysokiego poziomu cholesterolu jest kluczowe dla skutecznego zapobiegania i leczenia tego stanu. W przypadku rodzinnej hipercholesterolemii, która ma podłoże genetyczne, sama dieta i ćwiczenia nie wystarczą do kontrolowania poziomu cholesterolu i zwykle konieczne jest leczenie farmakologiczne⁵⁸. Natomiast dla większości osób z wysokim poziomem cholesterolu spowodowanym niezdrowym stylem życia, zmiana diety, zwiększenie aktywności fizycznej i rezygnacja z palenia tytoniu mogą znacząco pomóc w obniżeniu poziomu cholesterolu⁵⁹.

Wysoki poziom cholesterolu sam w sobie zazwyczaj nie powoduje żadnych objawów, aż do momentu wystąpienia poważnych problemów zdrowotnych, takich jak zawał serca lub udar mózgu⁶⁰. Dlatego regularne badania poziomu cholesterolu są istotne, szczególnie dla osób z czynnikami ryzyka, takimi jak rodzinne występowanie hipercholesterolemii⁶¹.

Kolejne rozdziały

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Materiały źródłowe

#1 High Cholesterol: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
https://patient.info/heart-health/high-cholesterol
High cholesterol refers to elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood. If your cholesterol levels are high, this can increase the chance of build-up of fatty deposits in your arteries. This increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. […] Everybody has some risk of developing small fatty lumps (atheroma) within the inside lining of blood vessels, which then may cause one or more cardiovascular diseases. However, some situations increase the risk. These include: […] Lifestyle risk factors that can be prevented or changed: Smoking. Lack of physical activity (a sedentary lifestyle). Obesity. An unhealthy diet – including eating too much salt. Excess alcohol. […] Treatable or partly treatable risk factors: High blood pressure (hypertension). High cholesterol level. However, only LDL cholesterol is a risk factor. HDL cholesterol is healthy for your body. High triglyceride (another type of fat in your blood) level. Diabetes. Kidney diseases that affect kidney function.
#2 Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol): Levels, Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21656-hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) is an excess of lipids or fats in your blood. This can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke because blood cant flow through your arteries easily. […] Too much cholesterol (200 mg/dL to 239 mg/dL is borderline high and 240 mg/dL is high) isnt healthy because it can create roadblocks in your artery highways where blood travels around to your body. This damages your organs that dont receive enough blood from your arteries. […] Bad cholesterol (LDL) is the most dangerous type because it causes hardened cholesterol deposits (plaque) to collect inside of your blood vessels. This makes it harder for your blood to get through, which puts you at risk for a stroke or heart attack. […] Hyperlipidemia can be very serious if its not managed. As long as high cholesterol is untreated, youre letting plaque accumulate inside of your blood vessels. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke because your blood has a hard time getting through your blood vessels.
#3 Blood Cholesterol – Causes and Risk Factors | NHLBI, NIH
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-cholesterol/causes
An unhealthy lifestyle is the most common cause of high bad LDL cholesterol or low good HDL cholesterol. However, genes that you inherit from your parents, other medical conditions, and some medicines may also raise LDL cholesterol levels or lower good HDL cholesterol levels. […] Family members usually have similar cholesterol levels. This suggests that your genes can raise your risk of having unhealthy cholesterol levels. […] Mutations, or changes, in your genes can be passed from parent to child. These changes in genes that control cholesterol levels can cause familial hypercholesterolemia. If you have a family history of high blood cholesterol, it may be more difficult for your body to remove LDL cholesterol from your blood or break it down in the liver. […] Many health problems that raise your risk of high blood cholesterol are caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits. For example, a lack of physical activity and poor eating habits can lead to overweight and obesity, which are linked to diabetes and sleep apnea.
#4 Causes of High Cholesterol | American Stroke Association
https://www.stroke.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol
You can make lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol numbers. […] An unhealthy lifestyle makes your body produce more LDL cholesterol than it needs. This is the cause of high LDL cholesterol for most people. […] Some people inherit genes from their mother or father that cause them to have too much cholesterol. This is called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). […] The severity of FH is related to the duration and degree of LDL cholesterol in the blood. […] If you have a family history of FH or problems related to high cholesterol, get your levels checked.
#5 What is Familial Hypercholesterolemia? | American Heart Association
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/genetic-conditions/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited defect in how the body recycles LDL, or âbadâ cholesterol. […] Familial hypercholesterolemia is commonly caused by a mutation in the gene for the LDL cholesterol receptor, which is involved in passing LDL from the blood into cells for use by, or removal from, the body. Mutations in other genes also can cause inherited high cholesterol. Those genes include the PCSK9 gene and the gene for Apolipoprotein B. If you inherit a specific type of mutation in any of these three genes, you can develop FH. […] FH remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. But people with FH have an excellent prognosis if the condition is identified early and treated. People with HoFH, or suspected HoFH, should start treatment as soon as possible. If not treated early, HoFH can lead to deadly cardiovascular complications in childhood. […] Familial hypercholesterolemia cannot be treated by diet and exercise alone. These lifestyle changes can help, but medications are recommended to reduce LDL cholesterol levels by at least 50%.
#6 What Causes High Cholesterol? | livestrong
https://www.livestrong.com/article/13724750-what-causes-high-cholesterol/
„Sometimes, you really can’t help high cholesterol. Some people inherit genes from their parents that cause them to have high cholesterol a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia that affects about 1 in 200 to 1 in 250 people (or around 0.5 percent of the population), according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.” […] „Most of the time, lifestyle plays a huge role,” stresses Lauri Wright, PhD, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of North Florida. Some of the more common culprits include:” […] „Adopting healthy eating habits is really the foundation of lowering cholesterol levels and can even help you avoid medication to lower your cholesterol,” advises Wright. […] „Having overweight or obesity can both increase bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides and lower good cholesterol (HDL), according to the AHA.” […] „While being a couch potato can affect your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, it plays an especially strong role with your HDL.” […] „But the one thing that has been shown to elevate it is exercise.”
#7
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/high-cholesterol/causes/
People with familial hypercholesterolaemia have raised cholesterol from birth. This can lead to the early development of heart problems, such as atherosclerosis and CHD. […] An increased risk of having a high triglyceride level may be the result of being overweight, eating a diet high in fatty or sugary foods, drinking a large amount of alcohol, genetic factors, or having diabetes.
#8 Hypercholesterolemia – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459188/
High cholesterol can be defined as a LDL-cholesterol greater than 190 mg/dL, greater than 160 mg/dL with one major risk factor, or greater than 130 mg/dL with two cardiovascular risk factors. The important risk factors include: […] There are genetic and acquired causes of hypercholesterolemia. The classical genetic disorder is familial hypercholesterolemia due to mutations in the LDL-receptor gene resulting in LDL-C greater than 190 mg/dl in heterozygotes and greater than 450 mg/dl in homozygotes. This defect in the LDL receptor accounts for at least 85% of familial hypercholesterolemia. Familial hypercholesterolemia is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding the LDL receptor. The reduction in LDL receptor activity in the liver results in a reduced rate of clearance of LDL from the circulation.
#9 Hypercholesterolemia – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459188/
Other genetic causes of familial hypercholesterolemia include: […] However, the commonest cause is polygenic hypercholesterolemia which results from an interaction of unidentified genetic factors compounded by a sedentary lifestyle and an increased intake of saturated and trans-fatty acids. Secondary causes include hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, cholestasis, pregnancy, and certain drugs like cyclosporine, thiazide, and diuretics. […] It is believed that the elevated LDL particles permeate the vascular intima and get trapped by proteoglycans in the intima. In the intima, LDL is oxidatively modified and promote inflammation and fatty streak formation. Atherogenesis evolves through a fibrous plaque to the mature lesion with plaque rupture culminating in a CV event.
#10 High Cholesterol: Causes, Implications, and Effective Management Strategies
https://www.rupahealth.com/post/high-cholesterol-causes-implication
High cholesterol is a common health concern affecting millions. Elevated cholesterol levels may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, which are a leading cause of health issues worldwide. […] Understanding the causes, implications, and management strategies for high cholesterol can help support public health. […] There are both genetic and acquired causes of high cholesterol. […] The most common genetic disorder that causes high cholesterol is called familial hypercholesterolemia, which results from mutations in the LDL-receptor, apolipoprotein B (ApoB), or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) genes. […] The following lifestyle factors can cause the liver to produce more LDL-C and triglycerides than the body needs: […] Certain medications can also affect a person’s lipid profile.
#11 High Cholesterol: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment – Heart Foundation NZ
https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/wellbeing/managing-risk/managing-high-cholesterol
What causes high cholesterol? […] Different things can cause high cholesterol. You can change some of these causes, and some you cant. […] Risk factors you can change: Too much food high in saturated fats, like red meat, butter, cream, and other dairy products. […] Risk factors you can’t change: Family history […] Some high cholesterol conditions are passed down through families including: familial hyperlipidaemia (high lipid levels) […] familial hypercholesterolaemia (high cholesterol levels) […] familial hypertriglyceridaemia (high triglyceride levels).
#12 Causes of High Cholesterol | American Stroke Association
https://www.stroke.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol
You can make lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol numbers. […] An unhealthy lifestyle makes your body produce more LDL cholesterol than it needs. This is the cause of high LDL cholesterol for most people. […] Some people inherit genes from their mother or father that cause them to have too much cholesterol. This is called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). […] The severity of FH is related to the duration and degree of LDL cholesterol in the blood. […] If you have a family history of FH or problems related to high cholesterol, get your levels checked.
#13 High cholesterol – symptoms, causes and levels – BHF
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol
High cholesterol means that you have too much cholesterol in your blood. There are many things that can cause this. If you do not take steps to lower high cholesterol, it can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. […] Anyone can get high cholesterol. It can be caused by many different things, some you can control and others you cannot. […] Eating too much saturated fat this reduces the liver’s ability to remove cholesterol, so it builds up in the blood. […] Being physically inactive being active raises the level of good cholesterol and reduces the level of bad cholesterol. […] Smoking- this can lead to high cholesterol levels and it causes tar to build up in your arteries, making it easier for cholesterol to stick to your artery walls. […] If you live with excess weight, especially around your middle.
#14 Cholesterol – healthy eating tips | Better Health Channel
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/cholesterol-healthy-eating-tips
High levels of cholesterol in your blood are mainly caused by eating foods that arent part of a heart-healthy eating pattern. […] Some causes of high cholesterol include: […] High intake of foods containing unhealthy fats (saturated fats and trans fats) such as fatty meats and deli-style meats, butter, cream, ice cream, coconut oil, palm oil and most deep-fried takeaway foods and commercially baked products (such as pies, biscuits, buns and pastries). […] Low intake of foods containing healthy fats healthy fats tend to increase the good (HDL) cholesterol. […] Low intake of foods containing fibre foods that are high in dietary fibre, particularly soluble fibre, can reduce the amount of bad (LDL) cholesterol in your blood. […] Low levels of physical activity and exercise. […] Being overweight or obese and having too much body fat around your middle.
#15 Here’s what actually causes high cholesterol (and how to cut it) | CNMRI: Neurology, Sleep Medicine, MRI
https://cnmri.com/2025/01/10/heres-what-actually-causes-high-cholesterol-and-how-to-cut-it/
Heres what actually causes high cholesterol (and how to cut it) […] Due to their saturated fat content, foods such as tropical oils (palm or coconut oil), baked goods, sweets and foods that have been fried all contribute to an increase of bad cholesterol. […] Processed meats think sausages, bacon and hot dogs also contain a high amount of saturated fat. […] According to one review involving 614,000 participants, each additional 50g (1.8oz) serving of processed meat per day is linked to a 42 per cent higher chance of heart disease. […] Then theres sugar. It also acts like a drug on your liver, encouraging it to produce more LDLs and fewer HDLs. […] A 15-year study found that participants who took in 25 per cent or more of their daily calories in sugar were more than twice as likely to die from heart disease, with cholesterol playing a key role.
#16 Risk Factors for High Cholesterol | Cholesterol | CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/risk-factors/index.html
Your behaviors and lifestyle choices can increase your risk for high cholesterol. […] Eating a diet high in saturated fat and trans fat may contribute to high cholesterol and related conditions, such as heart disease. […] Not getting enough physical activity can make you gain weight, which can lead to high cholesterol. […] Smoking damages your blood vessels, making them more likely to collect fatty deposits. […] Certain factors you cannot control increase your risk for high cholesterol: […] Family history. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, you are more likely to have high cholesterol. […] Age. Everyone’s risk for high cholesterol goes up with age. […] Your risk for high cholesterol can increase even more if you have a family history of high cholesterol, do not eat a heart healthy diet, are sedentary, or smoke.
#17 What Causes High Cholesterol? | Pantai Hospital
https://www.pantai.com.my/health-pulse/what-causes-high-cholesterol
Leading a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to high cholesterol levels. Regular physical activity may help raise HDL cholesterol and considerably lower LDL cholesterol. […] Excessive alcohol consumption may lead to high cholesterol. […] Chronic stress may indirectly affect ones cholesterol levels as it may lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices, for instance, overeating or consuming comfort foods high in cholesterol-raising fats.
#18 High cholesterol – symptoms, causes and levels – BHF
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol
High cholesterol means that you have too much cholesterol in your blood. There are many things that can cause this. If you do not take steps to lower high cholesterol, it can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. […] Anyone can get high cholesterol. It can be caused by many different things, some you can control and others you cannot. […] Eating too much saturated fat this reduces the liver’s ability to remove cholesterol, so it builds up in the blood. […] Being physically inactive being active raises the level of good cholesterol and reduces the level of bad cholesterol. […] Smoking- this can lead to high cholesterol levels and it causes tar to build up in your arteries, making it easier for cholesterol to stick to your artery walls. […] If you live with excess weight, especially around your middle.
#19 Causes of High Cholesterol | YourCareEverywhere
https://stage.yourcareeverywhere.com/health-research/health-insights/heart-care-insights/causes-of-high-cholesterol.html
Smoking also impacts your cholesterol in a negative way. […] Too much alcohol can contribute to elevated and unhealthy cholesterol levels, too. […] Not all causes of high cholesterol can be controlled by lifestyle changes. […] For example, type 2 diabetes lowers good cholesterol levels and raises bad LDL cholesterol levels, increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke, the CDC points out. […] In addition to type 2 diabetes, these conditions can also cause high cholesterol: Hypothyroidism (low thyroid), Chronic kidney disease, HIV, Polycystic ovary syndrome, Inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. […] Certain prescription drugs may also raise your cholesterol levels, according to the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute. […] Some people inherit a genetic defect that interferes with how their body recycles LDL cholesterol and that can lead to very high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood.
#20 Risk Factors for High Cholesterol | Cholesterol | CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/risk-factors/index.html
Certain health conditions increase your risk for high cholesterol. […] Your behaviors and lifestyle choices can increase your risk for high cholesterol. […] Certain health conditions increase your risk for high cholesterol: […] Type 2 diabetes lowers high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or „good”) cholesterol levels and raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or „bad”) cholesterol levels. […] Obesity is linked to higher triglyceride levels, higher LDL cholesterol levels, and lower HDL cholesterol levels. […] Other health conditions, such as familial hypercholesterolemia, can cause very high LDL cholesterol levels. […] Some people have an inherited genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). […] High cholesterol can run in families. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, you are more likely to have high cholesterol.
#21 High cholesterol – symptoms, causes and levels – BHF
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol
High cholesterol means that you have too much cholesterol in your blood. There are many things that can cause this. If you do not take steps to lower high cholesterol, it can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. […] Anyone can get high cholesterol. It can be caused by many different things, some you can control and others you cannot. […] Eating too much saturated fat this reduces the liver’s ability to remove cholesterol, so it builds up in the blood. […] Being physically inactive being active raises the level of good cholesterol and reduces the level of bad cholesterol. […] Smoking- this can lead to high cholesterol levels and it causes tar to build up in your arteries, making it easier for cholesterol to stick to your artery walls. […] If you live with excess weight, especially around your middle.
#22 Cholesterol – healthy eating tips | Better Health Channel
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/cholesterol-healthy-eating-tips
Smoking can lead to high cholesterol levels. […] Genetics your family history may affect your cholesterol level. […] Drinking too much alcohol can increase your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. […] Some medical conditions can cause high cholesterol levels including kidney and liver disease and underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). […] People with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure often have high cholesterol. […] Some types of medicines you take for other health problems can increase cholesterol levels as well.
#23 Causes of High Cholesterol – Patiala Heart Institute
https://patialaheart.com/blog/causes-of-high-cholesterol/
High cholesterol, a well-known health problem, has declined in prevalence but remains a danger. High cholesterol is a leading cause of death worldwide and plays a vital role in heart disease. […] Many lifestyle factors influence high cholesterol, including diet, exercise, and smoking. […] Chronic stress causes several health problems, including high cholesterol. Chronic stress is the primary cause of high cholesterol. […] Some drugs may have an unexpected effect on your cholesterol. […] Overweight and obese people are more likely to suffer from high cholesterol, even if it is only 20% above a healthy weight for their age and height. […] Smoking is another significant cause of high cholesterol. […] Your liver makes, processes, and breaks down cholesterol. When your liver doesn’t work correctly, it can affect your cholesterol levels. […] Saturated fats increase bad cholesterol, but it is lowered by foods rich in fiber and Omega-3 fats, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. […] Excessive alcohol consumption not only causes high cholesterol but also causes liver damage.
#24 Blood Cholesterol – Causes and Risk Factors | NHLBI, NIH
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-cholesterol/causes
Some medicines that you take for other health problems can raise your level of bad LDL cholesterol or lower your level of good HDL cholesterol. […] Unhealthy levels of cholesterol can affect people of all ages, even young children. However, high cholesterol is most commonly diagnosed in people between ages 40 and 59. […] Your race or ethnicity may affect your risk of high blood cholesterol. […] Between ages 20 and 39, men have a greater risk for high total cholesterol than women. […] A woman’s risk goes up after menopause. Menopause lowers levels of female hormones that may protect against high blood cholesterol. After menopause, women’s levels of total and bad LDL cholesterol usually go up, while their levels of good HDL cholesterol go down.
#25 High cholesterol – symptoms, causes and levels – BHF
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol
Getting older having higher cholesterol is more likely as we age. […] Being a man increases your risk of having higher cholesterol from a younger age. […] The menopause during and after the menopause women’s risk of high cholesterol goes up. […] Your family history you may inherit a condition that causes high cholesterol from your parents. […] You may be more likely to have high cholesterol if you have kidney disease, liver disease, type 2 diabetes, having an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), or growth hormone deficiency. […] Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), is an inherited condition, meaning you were born with it. It’s often passed down through families in faulty genes and can lead to very high levels of cholesterol, even if you do not have other risk factors. […] High LP(a) is a condition that can cause heart problems like heart attack and stroke. This is because LP(a) is sticky and can build up in your arteries. It’s usually an inherited condition but there are other causes.
#26 Blood Cholesterol – Causes and Risk Factors | NHLBI, NIH
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-cholesterol/causes
Some medicines that you take for other health problems can raise your level of bad LDL cholesterol or lower your level of good HDL cholesterol. […] Unhealthy levels of cholesterol can affect people of all ages, even young children. However, high cholesterol is most commonly diagnosed in people between ages 40 and 59. […] Your race or ethnicity may affect your risk of high blood cholesterol. […] Between ages 20 and 39, men have a greater risk for high total cholesterol than women. […] A woman’s risk goes up after menopause. Menopause lowers levels of female hormones that may protect against high blood cholesterol. After menopause, women’s levels of total and bad LDL cholesterol usually go up, while their levels of good HDL cholesterol go down.
#27 Blood Cholesterol – Causes and Risk Factors | NHLBI, NIH
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-cholesterol/causes
Some medicines that you take for other health problems can raise your level of bad LDL cholesterol or lower your level of good HDL cholesterol. […] Unhealthy levels of cholesterol can affect people of all ages, even young children. However, high cholesterol is most commonly diagnosed in people between ages 40 and 59. […] Your race or ethnicity may affect your risk of high blood cholesterol. […] Between ages 20 and 39, men have a greater risk for high total cholesterol than women. […] A woman’s risk goes up after menopause. Menopause lowers levels of female hormones that may protect against high blood cholesterol. After menopause, women’s levels of total and bad LDL cholesterol usually go up, while their levels of good HDL cholesterol go down.
#28 Blood Cholesterol – Causes and Risk Factors | NHLBI, NIH
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-cholesterol/causes
Some medicines that you take for other health problems can raise your level of bad LDL cholesterol or lower your level of good HDL cholesterol. […] Unhealthy levels of cholesterol can affect people of all ages, even young children. However, high cholesterol is most commonly diagnosed in people between ages 40 and 59. […] Your race or ethnicity may affect your risk of high blood cholesterol. […] Between ages 20 and 39, men have a greater risk for high total cholesterol than women. […] A woman’s risk goes up after menopause. Menopause lowers levels of female hormones that may protect against high blood cholesterol. After menopause, women’s levels of total and bad LDL cholesterol usually go up, while their levels of good HDL cholesterol go down.
#29 Surprising Causes of High Cholesterol
https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/ss/slideshow-surprising-causes-high-cholesterol
Chronic stress causes a number of health problems, including high cholesterol. Research shows that it raises your risk for high LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowers levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. […] Some drugs may have an unexpected effect on your cholesterol. These include certain birth control pills, retinoids, corticosteroids, antivirals, and anticonvulsants. […] Your body uses thyroid hormones to help remove the extra cholesterol that it doesn’t need. So, when you have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, your levels of total and LDL cholesterol go up. […] Type 2 diabetes can cause high blood sugar. When there’s too much sugar, it may attach to proteins, such as cholesterol molecules. This makes cholesterol more harmful. […] The sex hormone estrogen affects your cholesterol levels. When estrogen falls after menopause, your cholesterol goes up. […] When your liver doesn’t work properly, it can affect your cholesterol levels. […] A diet high in the sweet stuff causes your liver to make more LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and less HDL cholesterol.
#30 High Cholesterol: Causes, Symptoms and How It Affects the Body
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11918-cholesterol-high-cholesterol-diseases
High cholesterol is closely linked with many other medical problems. That means it can cause some serious problems to start (like coronary artery disease). […] High cholesterol can be genetic, but lifestyle factors can also raise your cholesterol. […] Lifestyle factors and genetics both play a role in causing high cholesterol. […] High cholesterol raises your risk of conditions like peripheral artery disease, high blood pressure and stroke. […] High cholesterol can cause medical problems like atherosclerosis. But some medical conditions can also put you at a higher risk of having high cholesterol. […] Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes plaque to build up more quickly in their arteries. […] Lupus raises your risk of developing coronary artery disease. Thats because lupus causes your body to be in a state of chronic inflammation. This inflammation leads to faster plaque buildup in your arteries. […] People with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) face a higher risk of heart disease. […] Diabetes mellitus (Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes) doubles your risk for coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease.
#31 Surprising Causes of High Cholesterol
https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/ss/slideshow-surprising-causes-high-cholesterol
Chronic stress causes a number of health problems, including high cholesterol. Research shows that it raises your risk for high LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowers levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. […] Some drugs may have an unexpected effect on your cholesterol. These include certain birth control pills, retinoids, corticosteroids, antivirals, and anticonvulsants. […] Your body uses thyroid hormones to help remove the extra cholesterol that it doesn’t need. So, when you have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, your levels of total and LDL cholesterol go up. […] Type 2 diabetes can cause high blood sugar. When there’s too much sugar, it may attach to proteins, such as cholesterol molecules. This makes cholesterol more harmful. […] The sex hormone estrogen affects your cholesterol levels. When estrogen falls after menopause, your cholesterol goes up. […] When your liver doesn’t work properly, it can affect your cholesterol levels. […] A diet high in the sweet stuff causes your liver to make more LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and less HDL cholesterol.
#32 Risk Factors for High Cholesterol | Cholesterol | CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/risk-factors/index.html
Certain health conditions increase your risk for high cholesterol. […] Your behaviors and lifestyle choices can increase your risk for high cholesterol. […] Certain health conditions increase your risk for high cholesterol: […] Type 2 diabetes lowers high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or „good”) cholesterol levels and raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or „bad”) cholesterol levels. […] Obesity is linked to higher triglyceride levels, higher LDL cholesterol levels, and lower HDL cholesterol levels. […] Other health conditions, such as familial hypercholesterolemia, can cause very high LDL cholesterol levels. […] Some people have an inherited genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). […] High cholesterol can run in families. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, you are more likely to have high cholesterol.
#33 Surprising Causes of High Cholesterol
https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/ss/slideshow-surprising-causes-high-cholesterol
Chronic stress causes a number of health problems, including high cholesterol. Research shows that it raises your risk for high LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowers levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. […] Some drugs may have an unexpected effect on your cholesterol. These include certain birth control pills, retinoids, corticosteroids, antivirals, and anticonvulsants. […] Your body uses thyroid hormones to help remove the extra cholesterol that it doesn’t need. So, when you have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, your levels of total and LDL cholesterol go up. […] Type 2 diabetes can cause high blood sugar. When there’s too much sugar, it may attach to proteins, such as cholesterol molecules. This makes cholesterol more harmful. […] The sex hormone estrogen affects your cholesterol levels. When estrogen falls after menopause, your cholesterol goes up. […] When your liver doesn’t work properly, it can affect your cholesterol levels. […] A diet high in the sweet stuff causes your liver to make more LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and less HDL cholesterol.
#34 High Cholesterol: Causes, Symptoms and How It Affects the Body
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11918-cholesterol-high-cholesterol-diseases
High cholesterol is closely linked with many other medical problems. That means it can cause some serious problems to start (like coronary artery disease). […] High cholesterol can be genetic, but lifestyle factors can also raise your cholesterol. […] Lifestyle factors and genetics both play a role in causing high cholesterol. […] High cholesterol raises your risk of conditions like peripheral artery disease, high blood pressure and stroke. […] High cholesterol can cause medical problems like atherosclerosis. But some medical conditions can also put you at a higher risk of having high cholesterol. […] Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes plaque to build up more quickly in their arteries. […] Lupus raises your risk of developing coronary artery disease. Thats because lupus causes your body to be in a state of chronic inflammation. This inflammation leads to faster plaque buildup in your arteries. […] People with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) face a higher risk of heart disease. […] Diabetes mellitus (Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes) doubles your risk for coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease.
#35 Hypercholesterolemia – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459188/
Other genetic causes of familial hypercholesterolemia include: […] However, the commonest cause is polygenic hypercholesterolemia which results from an interaction of unidentified genetic factors compounded by a sedentary lifestyle and an increased intake of saturated and trans-fatty acids. Secondary causes include hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, cholestasis, pregnancy, and certain drugs like cyclosporine, thiazide, and diuretics. […] It is believed that the elevated LDL particles permeate the vascular intima and get trapped by proteoglycans in the intima. In the intima, LDL is oxidatively modified and promote inflammation and fatty streak formation. Atherogenesis evolves through a fibrous plaque to the mature lesion with plaque rupture culminating in a CV event.
#36 Surprising Causes of High Cholesterol
https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/ss/slideshow-surprising-causes-high-cholesterol
Chronic stress causes a number of health problems, including high cholesterol. Research shows that it raises your risk for high LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowers levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. […] Some drugs may have an unexpected effect on your cholesterol. These include certain birth control pills, retinoids, corticosteroids, antivirals, and anticonvulsants. […] Your body uses thyroid hormones to help remove the extra cholesterol that it doesn’t need. So, when you have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, your levels of total and LDL cholesterol go up. […] Type 2 diabetes can cause high blood sugar. When there’s too much sugar, it may attach to proteins, such as cholesterol molecules. This makes cholesterol more harmful. […] The sex hormone estrogen affects your cholesterol levels. When estrogen falls after menopause, your cholesterol goes up. […] When your liver doesn’t work properly, it can affect your cholesterol levels. […] A diet high in the sweet stuff causes your liver to make more LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and less HDL cholesterol.
#37 Hypercholesterolemia – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459188/
Other genetic causes of familial hypercholesterolemia include: […] However, the commonest cause is polygenic hypercholesterolemia which results from an interaction of unidentified genetic factors compounded by a sedentary lifestyle and an increased intake of saturated and trans-fatty acids. Secondary causes include hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, cholestasis, pregnancy, and certain drugs like cyclosporine, thiazide, and diuretics. […] It is believed that the elevated LDL particles permeate the vascular intima and get trapped by proteoglycans in the intima. In the intima, LDL is oxidatively modified and promote inflammation and fatty streak formation. Atherogenesis evolves through a fibrous plaque to the mature lesion with plaque rupture culminating in a CV event.
#38 High Cholesterol: Causes, Symptoms and How It Affects the Body
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11918-cholesterol-high-cholesterol-diseases
High cholesterol is closely linked with many other medical problems. That means it can cause some serious problems to start (like coronary artery disease). […] High cholesterol can be genetic, but lifestyle factors can also raise your cholesterol. […] Lifestyle factors and genetics both play a role in causing high cholesterol. […] High cholesterol raises your risk of conditions like peripheral artery disease, high blood pressure and stroke. […] High cholesterol can cause medical problems like atherosclerosis. But some medical conditions can also put you at a higher risk of having high cholesterol. […] Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes plaque to build up more quickly in their arteries. […] Lupus raises your risk of developing coronary artery disease. Thats because lupus causes your body to be in a state of chronic inflammation. This inflammation leads to faster plaque buildup in your arteries. […] People with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) face a higher risk of heart disease. […] Diabetes mellitus (Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes) doubles your risk for coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease.
#39 High Cholesterol: Causes, Symptoms and How It Affects the Body
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11918-cholesterol-high-cholesterol-diseases
High cholesterol is closely linked with many other medical problems. That means it can cause some serious problems to start (like coronary artery disease). […] High cholesterol can be genetic, but lifestyle factors can also raise your cholesterol. […] Lifestyle factors and genetics both play a role in causing high cholesterol. […] High cholesterol raises your risk of conditions like peripheral artery disease, high blood pressure and stroke. […] High cholesterol can cause medical problems like atherosclerosis. But some medical conditions can also put you at a higher risk of having high cholesterol. […] Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes plaque to build up more quickly in their arteries. […] Lupus raises your risk of developing coronary artery disease. Thats because lupus causes your body to be in a state of chronic inflammation. This inflammation leads to faster plaque buildup in your arteries. […] People with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) face a higher risk of heart disease. […] Diabetes mellitus (Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes) doubles your risk for coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease.
#40 Surprising Causes of High Cholesterol
https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/ss/slideshow-surprising-causes-high-cholesterol
Chronic stress causes a number of health problems, including high cholesterol. Research shows that it raises your risk for high LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowers levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. […] Some drugs may have an unexpected effect on your cholesterol. These include certain birth control pills, retinoids, corticosteroids, antivirals, and anticonvulsants. […] Your body uses thyroid hormones to help remove the extra cholesterol that it doesn’t need. So, when you have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, your levels of total and LDL cholesterol go up. […] Type 2 diabetes can cause high blood sugar. When there’s too much sugar, it may attach to proteins, such as cholesterol molecules. This makes cholesterol more harmful. […] The sex hormone estrogen affects your cholesterol levels. When estrogen falls after menopause, your cholesterol goes up. […] When your liver doesn’t work properly, it can affect your cholesterol levels. […] A diet high in the sweet stuff causes your liver to make more LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and less HDL cholesterol.
#41 Causes of High Cholesterol | YourCareEverywhere
https://stage.yourcareeverywhere.com/health-research/health-insights/heart-care-insights/causes-of-high-cholesterol.html
Smoking also impacts your cholesterol in a negative way. […] Too much alcohol can contribute to elevated and unhealthy cholesterol levels, too. […] Not all causes of high cholesterol can be controlled by lifestyle changes. […] For example, type 2 diabetes lowers good cholesterol levels and raises bad LDL cholesterol levels, increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke, the CDC points out. […] In addition to type 2 diabetes, these conditions can also cause high cholesterol: Hypothyroidism (low thyroid), Chronic kidney disease, HIV, Polycystic ovary syndrome, Inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. […] Certain prescription drugs may also raise your cholesterol levels, according to the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute. […] Some people inherit a genetic defect that interferes with how their body recycles LDL cholesterol and that can lead to very high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood.
#42 Dyslipidemia – Hormonal and Metabolic Disorders – Merck Manual Consumer Version
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/hormonal-and-metabolic-disorders/cholesterol-disorders/dyslipidemia
Use of medications such as estrogens (taken by mouth), oral contraceptives, corticosteroids, retinoids, thiazide diuretics (to some extent), cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and antiviral drugs used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and AIDS can cause cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels to increase.
#43 Cholesterol: What causes high cholesterol?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9152
Chronic stress can negatively impact health and may contribute to high cholesterol levels. […] Evidence notes that living a sedentary lifestyle may contribute to high LDL levels and lower HDL levels. […] People who take certain drugs may have higher total and LDL cholesterol levels and lower HDL levels. […] Some health conditions increase the chance of developing high cholesterol. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, liver or kidney disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, pregnancy and other conditions that increase levels of female hormones, underactive thyroid gland, and nephrotic syndrome. […] Having certain risk factors can increase the chance of having high cholesterol. These include excess weight or obesity, age 45 years and over for males and 55 years and over for females, and smoking. […] High cholesterol is a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease and a cause of heart attacks. […] Knowing the causes of high cholesterol can help a person reduce or manage their cholesterol levels.
#44 High Cholesterol: Symptoms & Causes | NewYork-Presbyterian
https://www.nyp.org/heart/high-cholesterol
What Causes High Cholesterol? Various factors can contribute to high blood cholesterol, including other health conditions and prescription drugs. These include: […] A genetic tendency toward elevated cholesterol levels also called familial hypercholesterolemia […] Old age, as the liver becomes less effective at getting rid of LDL cholesterol with age […] Being inactive […] Obesity […] Use of tobacco and alcohol […] Poor diet, especially consumption of foods containing saturated and trans fats […] High levels of stress, which can trigger hormonal changes related to cholesterol production.
#45 Surprising Causes of High Cholesterol
https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/ss/slideshow-surprising-causes-high-cholesterol
Chronic stress causes a number of health problems, including high cholesterol. Research shows that it raises your risk for high LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowers levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. […] Some drugs may have an unexpected effect on your cholesterol. These include certain birth control pills, retinoids, corticosteroids, antivirals, and anticonvulsants. […] Your body uses thyroid hormones to help remove the extra cholesterol that it doesn’t need. So, when you have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, your levels of total and LDL cholesterol go up. […] Type 2 diabetes can cause high blood sugar. When there’s too much sugar, it may attach to proteins, such as cholesterol molecules. This makes cholesterol more harmful. […] The sex hormone estrogen affects your cholesterol levels. When estrogen falls after menopause, your cholesterol goes up. […] When your liver doesn’t work properly, it can affect your cholesterol levels. […] A diet high in the sweet stuff causes your liver to make more LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and less HDL cholesterol.
#46 Common Causes of High Cholesterol
https://www.crestviewhealth.org/common-causes-of-high-cholesterol
High cholesterol is a condition when you have too many lipids or fats in your blood. Also referred to as hyperlipidemia, it is closely linked with other medical problems like autoimmune disease and coronary artery disease. […] However, high cholesterol can also occur due to other diseases that trigger inflammation in the body, such as lupus. […] Chronic stress is linked to several health problems, including hyperlipidemia. Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol can trigger changes that may lead to inflammation and higher blood sugar levels. This increases the risk of bad cholesterol and lowers the levels of good cholesterol. Over time, this causes the liver to pump out more cholesterol and triglycerides or blood fats. […] Some medications may affect your cholesterol levels. Common examples include corticosteroids, birth control pills, and anticonvulsants. Some medicines used to treat hypertension like diuretics and older types of beta-blockers can also raise cholesterol levels. […] When your lifestyle consists of prolonged periods sitting down at a desk or on a couch, your cholesterol levels may rise.
#47 What Can Cause a Sudden Increase in Cholesterol? 6 Possible Factors
https://www.healthline.com/health/high-cholesterol/what-can-cause-a-sudden-increase-in-cholesterol
Some factors can cause cholesterol to rise faster than others. […] High blood cholesterol can pose a danger to your health. It increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. […] Certain health conditions and behaviors can increase your blood cholesterol. […] Psychological stress may raise the risk of having high LDL and total cholesterol. […] Smoking cigarettes is another possible cause of a spike in cholesterol levels. […] Some medications might have a cholesterol-raising effect on the body. […] During pregnancy, it’s natural for blood cholesterol to increase by 30% to 40%. […] Another potential cause of a temporary increase in cholesterol is rapid weight loss. […] High blood cholesterol occurs when your cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or higher. […] Some behaviors or conditions can cause sudden increases in blood cholesterol. This includes high coffee intake, rapid weight loss, cigarette smoking, and psychological stress.
#48 What Can Cause a Sudden Increase in Cholesterol? 6 Possible Factors
https://www.healthline.com/health/high-cholesterol/what-can-cause-a-sudden-increase-in-cholesterol
Some factors can cause cholesterol to rise faster than others. […] High blood cholesterol can pose a danger to your health. It increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. […] Certain health conditions and behaviors can increase your blood cholesterol. […] Psychological stress may raise the risk of having high LDL and total cholesterol. […] Smoking cigarettes is another possible cause of a spike in cholesterol levels. […] Some medications might have a cholesterol-raising effect on the body. […] During pregnancy, it’s natural for blood cholesterol to increase by 30% to 40%. […] Another potential cause of a temporary increase in cholesterol is rapid weight loss. […] High blood cholesterol occurs when your cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or higher. […] Some behaviors or conditions can cause sudden increases in blood cholesterol. This includes high coffee intake, rapid weight loss, cigarette smoking, and psychological stress.
#49 Sudden increase in cholesterol: Causes and more
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/the-causes-of-a-sudden-cholesterol-increase
A 2019 article points out three cases where people who lost weight during a medical weight loss program experienced a sudden spike in their LDL, or bad cholesterol, levels. […] If a person drinks heavily in one go, cholesterol levels may rise suddenly. […] During pregnancy, hormone levels increase. The increase in these hormones can, in turn, improve cholesterol levels. […] Cholesterol can also increase over time. Some contributing factors for high cholesterol include: Unbalanced diet: When people eat saturated fats, their LDL levels can increase. […] Genetics: In some cases, people inherit a predisposition for high cholesterol from a parent. […] Possible cholesterol-raising medical conditions include: diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid problems.
#50 What Can Cause a Sudden Increase in Cholesterol? 6 Possible Factors
https://www.healthline.com/health/high-cholesterol/what-can-cause-a-sudden-increase-in-cholesterol
Some factors can cause cholesterol to rise faster than others. […] High blood cholesterol can pose a danger to your health. It increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. […] Certain health conditions and behaviors can increase your blood cholesterol. […] Psychological stress may raise the risk of having high LDL and total cholesterol. […] Smoking cigarettes is another possible cause of a spike in cholesterol levels. […] Some medications might have a cholesterol-raising effect on the body. […] During pregnancy, it’s natural for blood cholesterol to increase by 30% to 40%. […] Another potential cause of a temporary increase in cholesterol is rapid weight loss. […] High blood cholesterol occurs when your cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or higher. […] Some behaviors or conditions can cause sudden increases in blood cholesterol. This includes high coffee intake, rapid weight loss, cigarette smoking, and psychological stress.
#51 Sudden increase in cholesterol: Causes and more
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/the-causes-of-a-sudden-cholesterol-increase
A 2019 article points out three cases where people who lost weight during a medical weight loss program experienced a sudden spike in their LDL, or bad cholesterol, levels. […] If a person drinks heavily in one go, cholesterol levels may rise suddenly. […] During pregnancy, hormone levels increase. The increase in these hormones can, in turn, improve cholesterol levels. […] Cholesterol can also increase over time. Some contributing factors for high cholesterol include: Unbalanced diet: When people eat saturated fats, their LDL levels can increase. […] Genetics: In some cases, people inherit a predisposition for high cholesterol from a parent. […] Possible cholesterol-raising medical conditions include: diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid problems.
#52 Sudden increase in cholesterol: Causes and more
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/the-causes-of-a-sudden-cholesterol-increase
A sudden increase in cholesterol can result from various factors, such as stress, diet, certain medications, pregnancy, and lifestyle habits, including smoking and drinking coffee or alcohol. […] High stress levels are one possible cause of a sudden spike in cholesterol. […] Cortisol can also trigger the release of extra cholesterol. Therefore, when a person experiences intense stress, this can significantly raise their cholesterol. […] A 2018 study highlights the link between excessive coffee consumption and high cholesterol levels. This may be due to coffee containing diterpenes. Diterpenes are chemical compounds that may raise cholesterol. […] A 2020 review explains that smoking causes a decrease in HDL cholesterol and raises LDL. […] Certain medications may cause a sudden spike in cholesterol levels.
#53 Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol): Levels, Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21656-hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) is an excess of lipids or fats in your blood. This can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke because blood cant flow through your arteries easily. […] Too much cholesterol (200 mg/dL to 239 mg/dL is borderline high and 240 mg/dL is high) isnt healthy because it can create roadblocks in your artery highways where blood travels around to your body. This damages your organs that dont receive enough blood from your arteries. […] Bad cholesterol (LDL) is the most dangerous type because it causes hardened cholesterol deposits (plaque) to collect inside of your blood vessels. This makes it harder for your blood to get through, which puts you at risk for a stroke or heart attack. […] Hyperlipidemia can be very serious if its not managed. As long as high cholesterol is untreated, youre letting plaque accumulate inside of your blood vessels. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke because your blood has a hard time getting through your blood vessels.
#54 Cholesterol | What We Do | World Heart Federation
https://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/cholesterol/
High cholesterol is also in itself a risk factor for serious health conditions. If left untreated, it can lead to atherosclerosis. This, in turn, may lead to heart disease, stroke, and other vascular diseases. The higher the LDL, the higher the risk. […] Approximately 4.4 million deaths were attributable to elevated LDL cholesterol in 2019.
#55 High Cholesterol: Causes, Implications, and Effective Management Strategies
https://www.rupahealth.com/post/high-cholesterol-causes-implication
Medical conditions known to contribute to dyslipidemia include hypothyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease, and pregnancy. […] Hyperlipidemia is associated with a higher prevalence of atherosclerosis, which can contribute to CVD and adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. […] Researchers have concluded that individuals with LDL-C levels of 130 mg/dL or greater have as much as a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. […] High cholesterol can be diagnosed with a simple blood test, such as one of the following: […] Hypercholesterolemia is diagnosed when TC is greater than 200 mg/dL and/or LDL-C is greater than 100 mg/dL. […] The following evidence-based nutraceuticals can also be considered to help manage cholesterol levels:
#56 Cholesterol | What We Do | World Heart Federation
https://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/cholesterol/
High cholesterol causes 3.6 million deaths every year. […] High cholesterol causes 4.4 million deaths every year, or 7.8% of all deaths. […] 24% of CVD-related deaths are attributable to high LDL cholesterol. […] High blood cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for heart disease, heart attack and stroke. […] High cholesterol can be inherited, but its often the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as inactivity, smoking and an unhealthy diet. […] Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol and affects approximately 34 million people worldwide. […] FH leads to high cholesterol and, if untreated, to early heart attacks and heart disease. […] The quantity of cholesterol produced by the body is partly genetically determined. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) leads to high cholesterol and, if untreated, to early heart attacks and heart disease.
#57 High Cholesterol: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
https://patient.info/heart-health/high-cholesterol
Fixed risk factors – ones that you cannot change: A strong family history of high cholesterol. This means if you have a father or brother who developed heart disease or a stroke before they were 55, or in a mother or sister before they were 65. Being male. An early menopause in women. Age. You are more likely to develop atheroma as you get older. Ethnic group. For example, people who live in the UK whose family originally came from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka have an increased risk. […] In some people a very high level of cholesterol runs in the family, due to a genetic problem with the way cholesterol is made by the cells in the body. One example is called familial hypercholesterolaemia. […] If you have a high risk of developing a cardiovascular disease, or you already have a cardiovascular disease, lowering your LDL cholesterol level reduces your risk of developing future cardiovascular problems.
#58 What is Familial Hypercholesterolemia? | American Heart Association
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/genetic-conditions/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited defect in how the body recycles LDL, or âbadâ cholesterol. […] Familial hypercholesterolemia is commonly caused by a mutation in the gene for the LDL cholesterol receptor, which is involved in passing LDL from the blood into cells for use by, or removal from, the body. Mutations in other genes also can cause inherited high cholesterol. Those genes include the PCSK9 gene and the gene for Apolipoprotein B. If you inherit a specific type of mutation in any of these three genes, you can develop FH. […] FH remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. But people with FH have an excellent prognosis if the condition is identified early and treated. People with HoFH, or suspected HoFH, should start treatment as soon as possible. If not treated early, HoFH can lead to deadly cardiovascular complications in childhood. […] Familial hypercholesterolemia cannot be treated by diet and exercise alone. These lifestyle changes can help, but medications are recommended to reduce LDL cholesterol levels by at least 50%.
#59 High Cholesterol (Hypercholesterolemia) – Harvard Health
https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/high-cholesterol-hypercholesterolemia-a-to-z
Statins do much more than lower your LDL cholesterol number. They lower your risk of developing hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and reduce the chance that you will have a heart attack or stroke. […] In addition to dietary changes or medication, people with high cholesterol should try to control their other risk factors for coronary artery disease. This means keeping blood pressure at normal levels, not smoking, controlling your blood sugar, maintaining or losing weight and following a regular exercise schedule. […] The effectiveness of following a healthy diet and using medications to lower cholesterol varies from person to person. On average, diet and exercise can lower LDL cholesterol by about 10%. Medications can lower LDL cholesterol by another 20% to more than 50%.
#60
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/high-cholesterol/causes/
High cholesterol itself does not usually cause any symptoms, but it increases your risk of serious health conditions. […] It’s mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. It can also run in families. […] Having an underlying condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or an underactive thyroid can also result in high cholesterol. […] People with high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes often have high cholesterol. […] Some other health conditions that can also cause raised levels of cholesterol include kidney disease, liver disease, and an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). […] Familial hypercholesterolaemia is the medical term for high cholesterol that runs in families. It’s caused by a gene alteration inherited from a parent, rather than an unhealthy lifestyle.
#61 Causes of High Cholesterol | American Stroke Association
https://www.stroke.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol
You can make lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol numbers. […] An unhealthy lifestyle makes your body produce more LDL cholesterol than it needs. This is the cause of high LDL cholesterol for most people. […] Some people inherit genes from their mother or father that cause them to have too much cholesterol. This is called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). […] The severity of FH is related to the duration and degree of LDL cholesterol in the blood. […] If you have a family history of FH or problems related to high cholesterol, get your levels checked.