We all have stress in our lives.From work, family, finances and maybe even a car that won’t run to a microwave that quit right at dinner time.But did you know that there is a link between these periods of intense stress and your cholesterol level? That is right, during times of high stress tiny fat particles are released into your bloodstream and these changes can raise your total cholesterol levels.
First let’s understand what cholesterol is and how it works.We have all heard of good cholesterol and bad cholesterol but many of us don’t know which one is which or what exactly each one does.HDL (high density lipoprotein) is the good cholesterol and LDL (low density lipoprotein) is the bad cholesterol.HDL or the good cholesterol carries cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver where it is passed through the body and eliminated.LDL or the bad cholesterol is the main cholesterol carrier in the blood.If too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood it can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries feeding the heart and brain and clogging the arteries.
Ok, so what is the connection between stress and cholesterol?Let say that your car won’t run.Your stress level is high because now you can’t get to work .That might not be so bad, call in sick and get a day off, right? Wrong!You have to get the car fixed but how to do that when you can drive it to the mechanic.Ok so you get someone to tow you there and then they drop you back off at home.Now you are stress because you don’t know how much it will cost to have it repaired or when it will be finished, but there is nothing you can do about it until the mechanic calls with the estimate.So in your state of worry you decide to take some stress of by watching t.v.Right away you see a commercial for your favorite kind of potato chip.You suddenly remember that you have those chips just feet away in the cupboard!So you go get them and plop back on the couch and mindlessly watch hours of t.v. all the time eating away at the bag of chips.See the connection?You are handling your stress by eating a whole bag of potato chips at once, do you think that will raise your cholesterol?Not only is your body automatically sending those fat particles into your bloodstream but you are digesting those cholesterol filled chips.
Ok so now you see the connection, what are you going to do about it?Here are a few tips.
1. Exercise
A good way to relieve stress is to exercise not only to you get the benefit of the stress relief but you also get the added benefit of the exercise.
2. Get plenty of rest
Sometimes when you have a stressful situation you are dealing with you tend to ignore the benefit of a good nights sleep.When you awake from a good nights rest you may be more apt to handle the situation in a positive manner.
3. Analyze what is stressing you out
The knowledge of knowing what is stressing you and taking a look at the way you are dealing with it is one of the best ways to improve your reaction to the stress.
4. Just say no
When you are asked to take on an addition responsibility that does not add a benefit to your life, maybe you should just say no, that you are unable to help right now but you would like to help sometime in the future.
Just by implementing these tips in your life may help you manage your stress and maintain a consistent healthy level of cholesterol.