The relationship between cholesterol and anxiety is complex as with many of the functions of the body. Cholesterol is a type of fat that is found in your blood. Natural cholesterol made by your body is created by the liver. However, cholesterol is also found in many foods that are commonly eaten including meat, fish, eggs, butter, cheese, and milk. Having good cholesterol levels is achievable, but it’s a balance because you need some, but not too much. Cholesterol is needed to help your brain, skin, and other organs perform their function effectively. However, too much cholesterol can clog the walls of your blood vessels and can cause problems such as a heart attack or stroke.

Defining Anxiety

Anxiety is the outcome of your body responding to stress, internal or external. It is often times associated with the unknown for many people and can also be referred to as “worrying” or “nervousness.” Anxiety can be ordinary and nothing to be alarmed about in some cases, for example, if you are anxious about your first day of school. The first day of school will likely come and go and the initial anxiety subsides as you are now able to understand what’s to come in the upcoming school year. This applies to a lot of “firsts” depending on your situation, including a doctor’s appointment, the first day of work, or maybe even trying something new for the first time. However, if you are feeling anxious for more than six months it’s important to talk with someone because untreated anxiety often gets worse.

Cholesterol and Anxiety

The relationship between cholesterol and anxiety has been researched and it has been found that there is a link between the two. However, the strength of the research as to whether the link is direct or indirect is not as well understood and is being examined by medical researchers and professionals. What we do know is this, there have been studies that have found that high cholesterol levels have been associated with anxiety. As discussed above, anxiety is your body’s response to stress. When the body becomes stressed, numerous physiological reactions take place.

One of the reactions is the change in hormone levels and components in the blood. These two things may likely increase cholesterol levels. So, cholesterol likely does not cause anxiety, but the reverse has been found to be linked. This means that anxiety may have another negative impact on one’s health as it can cause issues with cholesterol.

If you are experiencing stress or feeling anxious, it is important to contact your medical provider for support. There are some helpful ways to work on lowering your stress as to not impact your overall health while you are experiencing and working through your anxiety.

How to Manage Stress

1. Maintain a Healthy Diet

While an additional task may add to your stress, try as best as you can to maintain a healthy diet. If you have zero time to do this, incorporate fruits and veggies into your diet. You can get pre-packaged vegetables at the store and replace your old snacks. Also, try starting your day with water.

2. Exercise Regularly

Again, if you can’t do this, try as best as you can to incorporate physical activity into your day. Park at the back of the parking lot when you go to the store, walk up and down the stairs a few times during your lunch hour, and find at least fifteen minutes to walk around during the day.

3. Socialize

Spending time with loved ones can ease your stress and take your mind off your current worries. Escaping for a good laugh with a friend or a nice dinner with your partner can help.

It’s important to remember that those are just a few things to get you through the day before you see your Beverly Hills cardiologist. Talking to your medical provider and seeing what the issues are with your anxiety and cholesterol are important. You may need to be referred to a cardiologist if you are having issues with cholesterol. Dr. Hooman Madyoon of BHVCI is among the most trusted interventional cardiologist in Beverly Hills and has been at the forefront of his medical specialty for decades. He not only has a successful practice but continues to be a lead researcher for numerous high-level clinical medical trials. Dr. Madyoon is continually staying at the forefront of his specialty in order to best serve his patients.