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Have you recently had your blood lipids tested?
Maybe your doctor told you that the level of LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) is too high?
Maybe you were even offered medication to lower cholesterol?
It is important that you know that there are several reasons that can cause an increase in the cholesterol level, not always the known ones, and that it is important to address them and treat them.
1. Hypoactivity of the thyroid gland.
Thyroid hormones have an effect on the metabolism of fats.
Studies show that people with hypothyroidism have high levels of total cholesterol and LDL.
Studies show that treating the hypothyroidism leads to a decrease in the level of total cholesterol and LDL.
2. Infections.
Many studies have shown a connection between bacterial infections, such as Helicobacter pylori, and viral infections such as herpes and CMV and high levels of blood lipids.
For example, Helicobacter pylori infection leads to high levels of total cholesterol and LDL.
How are the infections related to the high levels of blood lipids?
There is evidence that the infections change the metabolism of the lipids in the cells.
And there is evidence that LDL has a role in protecting against infections.
Indeed, in mice with very high levels of LDL there was protection from infections such as Helicobacter pylori.
A variety of different factors.
Cholesterol in the arteries (Photo: ShutterStock)
3. Pathology in the digestive system.
When the intestinal barrier is damaged, substances produced by intestinal bacteria called lipopolysaccharides can enter the bloodstream.
The lipopolysaccharides are unwanted substances in the blood stream and they lead to the activation of the immune system.
As part of the response of the immune system, an increase in LDL can occur.
How is LDL related to the immune response?
It turns out that its particles can bind to lipopolysaccharides and remove them from the bloodstream.
And studies show that when there is an increase in lipopolysaccharides in the blood there is also an increase in LDL particles.
4. Environmental toxins.
This is probably the factor that is least thought of as a cause of an increase in LDL.
There are studies showing that mercury poisoning can lead to an increase in cholesterol.
Another toxin that can lead to an increase in blood lipids is bisphenol A. For example, rabbits treated with bisphenol A developed increased blood lipids and heart disease.
In addition to these substances, it is certainly possible that other substances such as pesticides, and estrogen-like chemical substances, can also cause similar disorders in the blood lipids.
5. Situations of physical or mental stress.
It is known that people with a disease called Cushing's, in which there is an oversecretion of the hormone cortisol, have an increase in blood lipids.
Cushing's disease is an extreme condition in which there is an increased secretion of the hormone cortisol.
But what about people who are in a state of constant stress?
Even in stressful situations, there is an increase in cortisol which is more moderate, but it is certainly possible that it will have similar effects on blood lipids.
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How can the levels of blood lipids be improved?
Eat a healthy diet
Do physical activity
Make sure your thyroid is balanced
Make sure you are not suffering from any infection
Ensure that you do not suffer from intestinal problems
Manage your stress well (by breathing, meditation, or yoga)
Make sure you are not exposed to environmental toxins
Dr. Dalit Dariman Medina is an expert in family medicine, integrative and functional medicine
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