Dose Stress Increase LDL Cholesterol Levels?

Some doctors claim that stress does not raise cholesterol levels. But a recent study found just the opposite true. It was found that within twenty minutes of starting a frustrating mental task, people had an increase of upto 5mg/dL in total cholesterol with a slightly low rise in LDL, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol.


Stress can affect the heart in other ways also. During stress bio-chemicals is released by the body which trigger processes that can harm the artery walls. They can also make blood thicker and more prone to clotting. Stress speeds up heartbeat, raises blood sugar levels and blood pressure, contributes to heartbeat irregularities and causes constriction of blood vessels. The arteries are narrowed when there are coronary spasms and thereby there is a reduction in the flow of blood to the heart. Anger a form of mental stress has been reported to trigger angina, heart attack and even sudden death.