High Cholesterol Causes
Article Sources
- 1. 'Why cholesterol matters.' American Heart Association, 6 Nov. 2020, https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/about-cholesterol.
- 2. Meagan Bridges, RD;David Zieve, MD, MHA. 'Facts about saturated fats' Medline Plus, 26 May 2020, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000838.htm.
- 3. 'Trans fat is double trouble for your heart health.' Mayo Clinic, 13 Feb. 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/trans-fat/art-20046114.
- 4. '5 foods that fight high cholesterol.' Harvard Health Publishing, 15 Feb. 2021, https://www.health.
- 5. 'Defining Adult Overweight and Obesity.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html.
- 6. 'Obesity and Lipid Abnormalities Fact Sheet.' Obesity Action Coalition, https://www.obesityaction.org/wp-content/uploads/Obesity-and-Lipid-Issues-Fact-Sheet.pdf.
- 7. 'Physical Fitness Keeps Cholesterol Under Control.' Journal of the American College of Cardiology, https://www.cardiosmart.org/news/2015/5/physical-fitness-keeps-cholesterol-under-control.
- 8. Alexander Chadwick;Rebecca Holme;Yiliang Chen;et al. 'Acrolein Impairs the Cholesterol Transport Functions of High Density Lipoproteins.' US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, PLoS One, 7 Apr. 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4388475/.
- 9. 'Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH).' American Heart Association, 9 Nov. 2020, https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh.
- 10. Beth Battaglino, RN-C. 'Heart Health During Pregnancy and Beyond.' Healthy Women, 21 Sep. 2020, https://www.healthywomen.org/created-with-support/heart-health-during-pregnancy-and-beyond.
Cholesterol is a lipid, one of the body's necessary fatty substances. A healthy liver produces enough for food digestion and other essential processes. However, diet also boosts cholesterol levels, specifically animal products.
Proteins carry cholesterol lipids in the blood, forming lipoprotein spheres. High-density lipoprotein removes some cholesterol from artery walls and returns it to the liver for removal. So, HDL is categorized as good cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein delivers cholesterol to the body's cells. LDL is considered bad cholesterol because too much causes arterial plaque buildup, which can lead to heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Both low LDL and high HDL are necessary to support a heart-healthy balance.1‘Why cholesterol matters.’ American Heart Association, 6 Nov. 2020, https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/about-cholesterol.
1. Unhealthy Foods
Poor dietary choices, including the type of food and method of preparation can cause high cholesterol, also called hyperlipidemia. Eating too many foods high in saturated fat can boost LDL to dangerous levels, especially when these fatty foods are consumed with refined sugars. Some examples of high saturated fat options are full-fat dairy, cheese, butter, sausage, fatty red meats, bacon and skin-on chicken.2Meagan Bridges, RD;David Zieve, MD, MHA. ‘Facts about saturated fats’ Medline Plus, 26 May 2020, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000838.htm.
Foods with trans fat deliver a double whammy. They lower good HDL cholesterol and increase bad LDL. Processed foods like cakes, microwave popcorn, biscuits and frozen pizza often contain trans fat. Fried foods are another culprit. Food labels help identify trans fat items.3‘Trans fat is double trouble for your heart health.’ Mayo Clinic, 13 Feb. 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/trans-fat/art-20046114.
2. Limited Good Foods
The body needs good dietary fat that helps keep HDL high and LDL low. Fish and several types of nuts, including walnuts, almonds and peanuts, help lower LDL as they contain healthy fats like omega 3 fatty acids.
Whole grains contain plenty of fibers, which help combat high cholesterol. Fiber-rich foods like oatmeal and beans work to flush extra cholesterol. A diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, cooked legumes and grains is rich in stanols or sterols. These compounds can help reduce the body's cholesterol absorption.4‘5 foods that fight high cholesterol.’ Harvard Health Publishing, 15 Feb. 2021, https://www.health.
3. Obesity
Medical professionals define obesity as a body mass index greater than 30.5‘Defining Adult Overweight and Obesity.’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html. That's typically about 20 percent over an individual's ideal weight. When someone carries this amount of extra weight or more, the body is less effective in many of its processes. One example is difficulty ridding the body of excess bad cholesterol.
Extra weight leads to more cholesterol production. Fatty liver disease is another common issue, impacting cholesterol removal. Dietary changes can help address these problems, but weight loss has more impact.6‘Obesity and Lipid Abnormalities Fact Sheet.’ Obesity Action Coalition, https://www.obesityaction.org/wp-content/uploads/Obesity-and-Lipid-Issues-Fact-Sheet.pdf.
4. Lack of Exercise
A sedentary lifestyle can lead to a variety of health issues, and hyperlipidemia is one of them. Little to no physical activity contributes to obesity, poor heart health and lipid disorders. These are high-cholesterol-related effects.
Additionally, studies have revealed a correlation between poor fitness levels and the development of high LDL cholesterol at an earlier age than more physically fit individuals. The beneficial impact of exercise is especially prevalent among young and middle-aged men. Regular physical activity helps boost HDL and lower LDL.7‘Physical Fitness Keeps Cholesterol Under Control.’ Journal of the American College of Cardiology, https://www.cardiosmart.org/news/2015/5/physical-fitness-keeps-cholesterol-under-control.
5. Smoking
Tobacco and nicotine use is another lifestyle choice with detrimental effects on health. Cigarettes contain a chemical called acrolein. Research shows that inhalation of this toxin draws it into the bloodstream where it impairs the body's ability to metabolize cholesterol.8Alexander Chadwick;Rebecca Holme;Yiliang Chen;et al. ‘Acrolein Impairs the Cholesterol Transport Functions of High Density Lipoproteins.’ US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, PLoS One, 7 Apr. 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4388475/.
Essentially, this chemical compound prevents the good HDL cholesterol from delivering bad LDL to the liver. This can lead to arterial plaque buildup, called atherosclerosis. Exposure to second-hand smoke can be detrimental in this way, as well.
6. Advanced Age
Some high cholesterol risks are out of a person's control. That's the case with aging. Cholesterol levels typically rise as individuals grow older. More men than women have hyperlipidemia. However, the risk of high cholesterol and associated health issues climbs when a woman enters menopause.
Medical professionals advise regular cholesterol testing for older adults with high risk factors. But for the best outcome, individuals should practice healthy dietary and lifestyle habits as early in life as possible.
7. Contributing Medical Conditions
Individuals with diabetes face several health challenges, including high cholesterol. In fact, it's what the "C" stands for in the mantra for diabetics: "control your ABCs." Diabetes causes "sticky" glucose to adhere to red blood cells and lipoproteins. LDL particles also gunk up arteries. These processes impair HDL production and raise LDL levels.
High blood pressure is another medical condition that may lead to high cholesterol. That's also the case for individuals with liver disease, kidney disease and hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid gland.
8. Heredity & Genetics
Some people have the misfortune of hereditary high cholesterol. When this condition runs in families, it's called familial hypercholesterolemia. It's caused by a genetic mutation occurring in about one in 200 people. Individuals with FH start life with elevated bad cholesterol. As they age, their levels continue to rise.9‘Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH).’ American Heart Association, 9 Nov. 2020, https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh.
Family history is another hereditary risk factor. There's a higher incidence of hyperlipidemia in people whose close relatives have been diagnosed with stroke or coronary heart disease. These types of risks are called fixed factors.
9. Pregnancy
Women typically experience temporary hyperlipidemia during pregnancies. That's because the production of a high volume of cholesterol is essential for the baby's growth and brain development.
Cholesterol starts rising during the middle three months of pregnancy. In the last three months of gestation, cholesterol reaches its highest levels. They recede to normal by the fourth week after the baby is born. While usually normal and necessary, pregnancy-related hyperlipidemia can cause high blood pressure and preeclampsia, especially if the mother had high cholesterol before pregnancy.10Beth Battaglino, RN-C. ‘Heart Health During Pregnancy and Beyond.’ Healthy Women, 21 Sep. 2020, https://www.healthywomen.org/created-with-support/heart-health-during-pregnancy-and-beyond.
10. Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol doesn't contribute to cholesterol levels the way some foods do, because it contains no cholesterol. Yet, alcohol consumption can impair the way the body removes excess cholesterol. This is due to the impact too much liquor can have on the liver.
High sugar content in some alcoholic drinks can also boost cholesterol levels. Too much sugar promotes increased levels of bad cholesterol and decreases HDL formation. Excessive alcohol consumption also contributes to weight gain, leading to obesity, another high cholesterol risk factor.
