There are several subtle explanations why cholesterol levels may rise. Cardiologist, Ph.D. Ekaterina Leonidovna Mayboroda told “Rambler” in which situations the indicator exceeds the standard.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance. Essentially, it is a building block primarily manufactured in the liver and obtained through diet.
Normally, cholesterol:
Is a vital component of the envelopes (membranes) of all body cells, providing them with firmness yet sufficient pliability.
Participates in the synthesis of hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D.
“Approximately 20% of cholesterol comes from food, and this portion an individual can manage. However, the liver produces about 80% of all cholesterol, and this process depends not only on lifestyle but also on numerous internal, including genetic, factors.”
Chronic strain can negatively affect the lipid profile and contribute to elevated cholesterol, particularly the “bad” type.
Cortisol, the stress hormone, prompts the breakdown of fats, leading to the discharge of free fatty acids and triglycerides into the bloodstream. In response, the liver starts intensively generating very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) for their conveyance. These VLDLs then transform into low-density lipoproteins—the very “bad” cholesterol that deposits in the vessels.
What is a lipid profile and what do test results indicate
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid hormones influence how the body processes fats and cholesterol. They regulate the activity pace at which the liver synthesizes and breaks down lipids. When the organ’s function diminishes, this mechanism is disrupted—the liver utilizes cholesterol less effectively, and its amount in the blood rises, especially the “bad” cholesterol linked to atherosclerosis risk. That is why individuals with hypothyroidism often have elevated blood lipids, and monitoring thyroid hormone levels is a crucial part of cardiovascular disease prevention.
Prolonged Periods of Inactivity
Studies suggest that extended hypodynamia impairs the lipid profile. In people who remain motionless for long spells, levels of “good” cholesterol drop, and the capacity to eliminate excess cholesterol from tissues decreases. Furthermore, the level of proteins that redistribute cholesterol may be increased. This sets the stage for plaque formation and expansion in the vessels, raising the risk of cardiovascular illnesses, even if a person is occasionally physically active.
Findings from research published in the journal Lipids in Health and Disease also revealed: if someone spends a lot of time in front of a screen, this can worsen the lipid profile, especially in people of normal weight.
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Genetics
Hereditary factors—familial hypercholesterolemia—are often the cause of high cholesterol in young people who maintain a healthy lifestyle. A defect occurs in certain genes. Because of this, the liver cannot properly cleanse the blood of low-density lipoproteins. Receptors on liver cells, intended to capture cholesterol and remove it from the body, function too weakly or not at all. Cholesterol remains in the blood and begins to settle on vessel walls.
“This condition begins at birth, so cholesterol is constantly very high. This presents a major hazard: cholesterol damages vessels from an early age, and the person risks suffering a heart attack or stroke much sooner than those without the genetic predisposition,” explains the specialist.
Therefore, if tests show drastically high values, physicians invariably prescribe medications, most often statins. In this scenario, diet alone and exercise will not suffice to lower cholesterol to levels that do not threaten the heart and vessels.
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The Main Point: Cholesterol Can Be High for Reasons Beyond Diet
Cholesterol level readings can increase not only due to diet and excess mass. Internal bodily mechanisms significantly impact lipid levels. Chronic strain, via increased cortisol, enhances the discharge of fatty acids and stimulates the synthesis of low-density lipoproteins. Thyroid malfunctions decelerate fat processing in the liver, causing cholesterol levels to rise. Extended inactivity reduces “good” cholesterol levels and diminishes the body’s ability to expel its surplus. Genetics also plays a vital role: in familial hypercholesterolemia, the liver cannot efficiently purify the blood of “bad” cholesterol, resulting in high readings from birth that necessitate pharmaceutical treatment.
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