Stress ia another cause of elevated blood cholesterol levels, including LDL cholesterol. Several different factors related to stress drive this phenomenon. The heart's preferred fuel is fat. Evolution has trained us to react to stress either by fighting of fleeing the perceived threat in the enviroment. In order to fight or flee, the heart has to work harder, which means it's going to need more fuel. Once the body is thrown into stress, certain hormones, particularly cortisol, force the release of fat store in the tissues which flood the bloodstream and flows into the heart. That, of course, increases blood cholesterol levels, including LDL cholesterol. The problem is that stress tends to be chronic in our society. We don't fight or flee when confronted by many of the experiences we regard as threatening. Also, many people who suffer from chronic stress do not exercise, but instead live sedentary lives lifestyle. That means that the heart doesn't utilize the available fat fuel in orther to fight, flee, or simply burn fat as fuel for exercise. On the contrary, once the fat is dumped into the blood stream, its primary effect is to contribute to coronary heart disease, which ends up destroying the heart. Ambient-meditation room.

The medical literature tells us quite clearly that many of the conditions associated with "a modern" lifestyle conditions as obesity, diebetes, hypertension, insomnia, headaches, ulcers depression, anxiety, poor memory, and lower resistance to infection are all related to high stress levels. Symptoms of too much stress.

Increase appetite, accelerated muscle catabolism (breakdown), supressed fat oxidation, enhanced fat storage - Obesity

Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides levels - Heart Disease

Elevated blood pressure - Heart disease

Alterations in brain neurochemestry (involving dopamine and serotonin - Depression/Anxiety

Physical atrophy (shrinkage) of brain cells - Alzheimer's disease

Insuline resistance and elevated blood-sugar levels - Diebetes

Accelerated bone reabsortion (breakdown) - Osteoporosis

Reduce levels of testosterone and estrogen - Supressed libido

Supression of immune-cell number and activity - Frequent colds/flu/infection

Reduced syntesis of brain neurotransmiters - Memory concentration problems

SOURCE: The Cortisol Connection

Why stress makes you fat and ruins your health and what to do about it

by Shawn Talbott, PH. D.

Further reading:

Study confirms that stress can speed up your aging

Some commuter more stressed than fighter pilots

First Alternative Chiropractic®