7 Things Allegedly Caused High Collastrol, One Of Them Sitting Often

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High cholesterol is often considered a problem caused by an unhealthy diet or lack of exercise. However, there are various unexpected factors that can also contribute to rising cholesterol levels in the blood.

Here are 10 things that are suspected to cause high-speed collession that may not be known, as reported by VOI from the WebMD page on Friday, November 15, 2024.

1. Stress

chronic stress can cause various health problems, including high cholesterol. Research shows that stress can increase levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower HDL (good cholesterol).

Stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, trigger changes in the body that can increase blood sugar levels and inflammation. Over time, this can cause the liver to pump more cholesterol and blood fat called triglycerides.

2. Use of Certain Drugs

Some drugs can affect cholesterol levels without realizing it. Certain contraceptive drugs, retinoids, corticosteroids, antivirals, and anticonvulsan drugs are some examples that can increase cholesterol levels.

Medicines for high blood pressure, such as diuretics and old beta-blockers, can also have an impact on cholesterol levels. If you take these drugs, it is important to consult a doctor so that doses or types of drugs can be adjusted.

3. Sit too long

Whether it's at work or on the sofa, sitting for too long can damage health. This habit is associated with obesity, heart disease, and high cholesterol. Sitting for too long, enzymes that convert harmful LDL cholesterol into good HDL decrease to 95%.

To protect the heart, make sure to take a break regularly. Take it every 30 minutes and if possible, walk for 5 minutes every hour.

4. Drink too much alcohol

In addition to processing cholesterol, the liver is also tasked with breaking alcohol. So, when you drink excessive amounts of alcohol, this can affect cholesterol levels.

A study found that men who drank alcohol excessively, about 4 and a half glasses or more at once, had poorer cholesterol levels compared to those who didn't drink.

This also applies to those who occasionally consume large amounts of alcohol. If you consume alcohol, make sure it's not more than one glass a day for women and two glasses for men.

5. Consumption of food and drinks that contain high sugar

Fat saturated is often considered the main cause of heart disease. However, too much sugar is also the culprit. A high diet of sugar causes the liver to produce more LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as less HDL cholesterol.

One study found that people who get 10% or more calories from additional sugar are likely up to 3 times greater to have low HDL levels, compared to those who get less than half that amount.

6. Coffee Without Filter

Coffee drinking habits with French press, Turkish coffee, oriri can be at risk of raising cholesterol. This type of coffee does not use filters, so oily compounds in coffee beans that are said to be suspended can enter the cup.

These compounds can increase levels of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). Although one or two cups a day is usually not a problem, experts advise against consuming more than four cups of coffee without filters in a day.

7. Menopaus

Hormone estrogen plays a role in regulating cholesterol levels in the body. When estrogen levels decrease after menopause, cholesterol levels tend to rise. Research shows levels of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and total cholesterol increases for some time and after the last period.

Even worse, women tend to experience an average weight gain of 8 to 10 pounds (about 3.5 to 4.5 kg) after menopause. They also tend to decrease their physical activity, which can increase the risk of high cholesterol.