Knowing which factors can cause cholesterol to rise faster than others is important, as consistently elevated levels can increase your risk of certain heart conditions.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that’s similar to fat. Your body needs a certain amount of it to make cell membranes, vitamin D, and more.
Your liver naturally makes all the cholesterol you need. However, certain health conditions and behaviors can increase your blood cholesterol.
High blood cholesterol can pose a danger to your health. It increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high blood cholesterol is considered to be 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more. A healthy cholesterol level is less than 200 mg/dL.
Some factors may cause cholesterol to rise faster than others. These include:
1. High coffee consumption
Thanks to its caffeine content, coffee is often associated with rapid spikes in blood pressure. But coffee can increase your blood cholesterol levels as well.
A 2023 study found a link between drinking 4 cups of coffee a day and increased total cholesterol and LDL (”bad’) cholesterol. But some types of coffee may cause more rapid rises in cholesterol than others.
In a small 1-week 2018 study involving young adults, researchers linked espresso-based drinks to higher cholesterol. The study notes that espresso-based drinks contain more diterpenes than filtered or instant coffee.
To minimize the risk of high cholesterol from coffee, consider limiting drinks containing espresso.
2. Psychological stress
Stress and cholesterol levels are also related.
Psychological stress may raise the risk of having high LDL and total cholesterol. This could be due to the hormone cortisol, which spikes during times of stress. High cortisol levels have a cholesterol-raising effect on the body, according to a 2020 article.
To reduce the risk of high cholesterol caused by stress, you can try stress management techniques such as exercise, meditation, and breathing exercises.
3. Cigarette smoking
Smoking cigarettes is another possible cause of a spike in cholesterol levels. This is due to nicotine, the main ingredient in tobacco products such as cigarettes. Nicotine decreases the amount of HDL (”good’) cholesterol in your blood, which helps remove LDL cholesterol.
The best way to reduce the risk of smoking-induced high cholesterol is to avoid or quit cigarette smoking.
4. Medications
Some medications might have a cholesterol-raising effect on the body. This includes prescription drugs such as:
- amiodarone
- danazol
- some diuretics
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- retinoids
- anticonvulsants
- immunosuppressants
- antiviral drugs
- growth hormone
- interferons
In general, these medications increase blood cholesterol levels by altering lipid metabolism. Certain medications, such as antipsychotics, might also increase cholesterol by promoting weight gain.
To prevent an increase in cholesterol due to medication, talk with a doctor. They can determine your risk and, if needed, change your medication or dosage. There may be another medication within the same class that is less likely to increase your cholesterol levels.
5. Pregnancy
During pregnancy, it’s natural for blood cholesterol to increase by 30% to 40%. That’s because cholesterol is essential for healthy fetal growth and development.
According to a 2021 article, high cholesterol levels during pregnancy are related to increased levels of:
- estrogen and progesterone
- placental lactogen
- insulin resistance
However, it’s possible for cholesterol to increase too much during pregnancy. This is called gestational hypercholesterolemia or maternal hypercholesterolemia.
A doctor can help manage the condition by suggesting dietary changes and prescribing lipid-lowering drugs.
6. Rapid weight loss
Another potential cause of a temporary increase in cholesterol is rapid weight loss.
In a small 2019 study, three adults quickly lost weight by following very low calorie diets. In all three cases, their LDL cholesterol temporarily spiked before dropping to normal levels. According to the researchers, this might be related to changes in metabolism.
People who follow the ketogenic diet to lose weight quickly may also experience spikes in cholesterol levels, according to a 2023 case series.
If you’re interested in losing weight, be sure to work with a healthcare professional. They can help you lose weight safely while providing guidance for health-related side effects, such as sudden increases in cholesterol.
Should I Worry About Short-Term Spikes In Cholesterol?
High cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease or a major cardiovascular event, like a heart attack or stroke. This is more likely to happen if your cholesterol levels are consistently or frequently elevated.
Still, temporary spikes in cholesterol may suggest underlying lifestyle or dietary habits that may need addressing, or a condition that can affect cholesterol levels more long-term.
If your cholesterol levels have increased rapidly, it’s essential that you act to lower them to avoid chronic high cholesterol levels. Talk with a healthcare professional about steps you can take to manage your cholesterol levels.
The Bottom Line
Some behaviors or conditions can cause sudden increases in blood cholesterol. This includes high coffee intake, rapid weight loss, cigarette smoking, and psychological stress. Being pregnant and taking certain medications, such as diuretics, antivirals, or steroids, can also quickly increase cholesterol.
High cholesterol levels can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. It’s important to take steps to address sudden increases in cholesterol levels.
The only way to know if you have high cholesterol is to get a blood test. A doctor can determine if you’re at risk of high cholesterol due to short-term or long-term causes.
Sources:
- About cholesterol. (2024).
https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/about/index.html - Akhtar F, et al. (2018). The effect of thiazide diuretics on blood lipid profile in hypertensive adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6051560/ - Cantin C, et al. (2020). Maternal hypercholesterolemia during pregnancy: Potential modulation of cholesterol transport through the human placenta and lipoprotein profile in maternal and neonatal circulation.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0143400420300874 - Condon C, et al. (2018). 34 High intake of coffee positively correlated with total and LDL cholesterol in healthy young adults.
https://heart.bmj.com/content/104/Suppl_7/A25.2 - Herink M, et al. (2018). Medication induced changes in lipid and lipoproteins.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326739/ - Mauri M, et al. (2021). Dyslipemias and pregnancy, an update.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2529912320300899 - Hyánek J, et al. (2019). Gestational hypercholesterolemia helps detect familial hypercholesterolemia and prevent late pregnancy complications.
https://www.heighpubs.org/cjog/cjog-aid1026.php - Jones C, et al. (2020). Cortisol level dysregulation and its prevalence—Is it nature’s alarm clock?
https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.14814/phy2.14644 - Parmar MP, et al. (2023). A systematic review of the effects of smoking on the cardiovascular system and general health.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10208588/ - Schmidt T, et al. (2023). Dramatic elevation of LDL cholesterol from ketogenic-dieting: A case series.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10121782/ - Senftinger J, et al. (2023). Coffee consumption and associations with blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol and echocardiographic measures in the general population.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10033706/ - Surampudi V, et al. (2019). Weight loss and transient LDL increase.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S247529912314772X
Important Notice: This article was originally published at www.healthline.com by Kirsten Nunez, where all credits are due. Medically reviewed by Kristin Shaffer, PA-C
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