Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood. It’s essential for brain health, creating hormones, and building cells throughout the body. But having too much cholesterol in the blood can lead to some serious health problems, including heart disease.
About 71 million Americans have high cholesterol. And while there are lots of possible causes, one reason why it’s so common is that sneaky habits can contribute to high cholesterol levels without you realizing it.
Fortunately, treating high cholesterol starts with understanding it — and Kunal Patel, MD, and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute are here to help. Here are four common habits that can elevate cholesterol levels. We explain why these habits can affect your heart health and what you can do about them.
Regular exercise is essential for a healthy heart. Physical activity naturally helps increase HDL (“good” cholesterol), and it stimulates enzymes that help remove LDL (“bad” cholesterol) from your bloodstream.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week. Even small amounts of physical activity can make a big difference in maintaining better heart health.
But if you don’t get regular exercise, you could be at higher risk of high cholesterol. A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to higher LDL levels, weight gain, poor circulation, and reduced efficiency in fat metabolism.
While fatty foods often get the blame for raising cholesterol levels, sugar is a sneaky contributor, too. In fact, high intake of sugary foods and beverages can increase your blood triglyceride levels and decrease your (good) HDL levels, which raises your overall risk for having a heart attack.
Your liver converts excess sugar into triglycerides, which increases blood triglycerides and causes artery walls to stiffen, which contributes to heart disease. Extra triglycerides that your body doesn’t need for energy are stored as body fat, and having obesity contributes to cardiovascular disease, too.
Plus, processed sugars and refined carbohydrates can spike blood sugar levels and contribute to insulin resistance, which increase risk of heart disease.
In an effort to cut calories or save time, you might think that skipping breakfast seems like a good idea. But even though it can contribute to weight loss, the truth is that this habit can negatively impact your cholesterol levels over time.
Skipping breakfast can trigger metabolic changes that increase cholesterol synthesis in your body. This study shows that people who regularly skip breakfast have higher total cholesterol levels. Plus, skipping breakfast may make you more likely to overeat later in the day or make unhealthy snack choices.
Chronic stress has a well-documented impact on your overall health, and that includes your cholesterol levels. When you're stressed, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that can increase cholesterol production in your liver.
Additionally, being stressed makes it easier to lean on unhealthy coping mechanisms. Habits like overeating, smoking, or drinking alcohol, can negatively affect cholesterol levels and your overall heart health, too.
Understanding these sneaky habits is the first step toward better managing your cholesterol. And if you’re worried about your cholesterol levels, regular visits to a cardiologist can provide you with personalized advice and treatment plans to help you maintain a healthier heart.
Dr. Patel and our team conduct thorough evaluations, including blood tests to measure your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Once we understand your needs, we can recommend lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, and medications if necessary to help you control your cholesterol levels.
We address both the obvious and hidden factors that influence cholesterol, and we’re here to help you take proactive steps to lower your risk of heart disease and improve your overall cardiovascular health.
A commitment to making healthier choices can have a big impact on your cholesterol levels and heart health, and now is a great time to get started. Call one of our offices in Elizabeth, Lakewood, Paramus, and Secaucus, New Jersey, or send us a message online today.
