In studies of adults, it has been suggested that serum cholesterol levels are inversely correlated with depressive mood [8] and suicidality [9]. In a recent meta-analysis of 42 studies [10], serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as a continuous variable, was significantly lower in patients with depression.
High cholesterol levels have been associated with schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
There is an established link between high cholesterol and anxiety. Studies¹ have shown that high cholesterol levels are found more often in people who suffer from an anxiety disorder than those who suffer from other mental health conditions.
High cholesterol diet induced age-dependent effects on anxiety-like behavior and central neurochemical changes. High cholesterol diet might affect the central nervous system (CNS) function differently, and resulting in different behavior performance of anxiety in different age period.
It's simple. According to Ohio State University researchers, there's evidence that people who respond rigidly to anger-provoking events are likely to wind up with significantly elevated levels of artery-damaging cholesterol.
The more anger and hostility that stress produces in you, the higher (and worse) your LDL and triglyceride levels tend to be. Stress encourages the body to produce more energy in the form of metabolic fuels, which cause the liver to produce and secrete more of the bad cholesterol, LDL.
Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Soluble fiber is found in such foods as oatmeal, kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears. Add whey protein. Whey protein, which is found in dairy products, may account for many of the health benefits attributed to dairy.
Blood cholesterol is measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood, often shortened to mmol/L. As a general guide, total cholesterol levels should be: 5mmol/L or less for healthy adults. 4mmol/L or less for those at high risk.
What Are the Symptoms of Cholesterol Problems? A high level of cholesterol in the blood doesn't have obvious symptoms, but it can increase your risk for conditions that do have symptoms, including angina (chest pain caused by heart disease), high blood pressure, stroke, and other circulatory ailments.
Additionally, an increase in triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio by 1 was associated with a 1.041-fold higher probability of depression in men. Among women, the three lipid ratios were not associated with depression.
Higher levels of cholesterol in panic disorder are hypothesized to be a result of increased noradrenergic activity, which may be the underlying biological/neurochemical mechanism for symptoms of panic disorder, including anticipatory anxiety.
Stress Triggers Unhealthy Habits
If you already have high cholesterol, stress may make it worse. In one study of about 200 middle-aged men and women with high cholesterol who were tracked for 3 years, people with higher levels of stress had elevated cholesterol compared with those who had lower stress.
A person is considered at high risk for developing heart disease if their total cholesterol level is higher than 240 mg/dL, LDL levels are higher than 160 mg/dL (190 mg/dL is even higher risk), and if the HDL level is below 40 mg/dL.
And this isn't the first time researchers have found a link between cholesterol and memory problems. An earlier study in 2002, published in the Archives of Neurology, found that women with high levels of LDL had increased degrees of cognitive impairment, including memory loss.
In conclusion, this study indicates that changes in plasma cholesterol levels may trigger serotonin depletion and related behaviors, such as increased aggression.
Later on, clinical retrospective studies in humans showed that hypercholesterolemia predisposes to cognitive deficits, including dementias of the Alzheimer's type [74], and that chronic treatment with cholesterol-lowering statins seemed to prevent the disease [75,76].
Plus, the risks from high cholesterol aren't immediate. The damage accumulates over years -- even decades. High cholesterol in your 20s and 30s can take its toll in your 50s and 60s.
Types of Cholesterol
Levels of LDL cholesterol higher than 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are linked to an increased risk for ischemic stroke.
High cholesterol levels are considered: too high: between 5 and 6.4mmol/l. very high: between 6.5 and 7.8mmol/l. extremely high: above 7.8mmol/l.
Eye Symptoms of High Cholesterol
It is hard to diagnose underlying problems, but some of the warning signs are: - White, grey and yellow deposits forming around the cornea; - Blurry Vision; - Yellow bumps around the eyes.
When people have high cholesterol their LDL (bad) is high and their HDL (good) is low. Eating healthy, regular exercise and drinking plenty of water will help to bring down cholesterol levels within 2-3 weeks.
Completely reversing it isn't possible yet. But taking a statin can reduce the risk of complications from atherosclerosis. It fights inflammation, which stabilizes the plaque.