Cholesterol - friend or foe?

Have you been for your mid-life health check recently? Many women at this time of life are diagnosed with high cholesterol. There’s good reason for this and it’s important to understand why.

Cholesterol is manufactured in the liver. It is responsible for repairing damaged tissue. Steroid hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone and cortisol are derived from cholesterol. As oestrogen levels are lowering at mid-life, it is not unlikely that we will have raised levels of cholesterol which is more of a problem in conjunction with high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity or a genetic tendency to gain weight around the middle.

Cortisol is one of our stress hormones and its main role is to modulate inflammation. The body is unable to metabolise the amount of cortisol circulating when chronically stressed. Cortisol then becomes dysfunctional and the result is actually increased inflammation. Not only is cholesterol needed for greater cortisol production but also to repair any damage to the tissues as a result of inflammation.

Food intolerances are inflammatory and are common in women at mid-life. Arthritis and rheumatism are inflammatory conditions also. Higher levels of cholesterol is necessary for the body to derive cortisol whose role is to modulate inflammation in these circumstances. Remember that cortisol is our friend until it gets out of control.

Stress is often the root cause of dis-ease and disease and this certainly needs to be addressed. Downregulating an overactive nervous system and developing skills to manage stress can reduce cortisol and thereby lower cholesterol.

If like me, you prefer to find a natural solution before going down a medical road, consider whether there is a source of inflammation that could be the cause of high cholesterol. Address that and you may find your cholesterol levels lower. It is important to get them checked again to take a different course of action should it be sensible or necessary.

References:

https://www.uscjournal.com/articles/menopause-cholesterol-and-cardiovascular-disease-0#:~:text=Menopause%20is%20associated%20with%20a,%2Ddensity%20lipoprotein%20(HDL).

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/how-its-made-cholesterol-production-in-your-body

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4263906/#:~:text=Cortisol%20is%20a%20potent%20anti,survival%20and%20avoidance%20of%20danger.

Look after your Adrenal Glands and they'll take care of you!

The adrenal glands sit on top of each of your kidneys. They play a vital role in your body, secreting hormones that are essential for life, stress hormones that also act as neurotransmitters, sending messages to your nervous system and sex hormones.

Here are just a few examples of hormones produced by the adrenal glands:

Aldosterone is responsible for maintaining the body’s salt and water levels which in turn regulates blood pressure.
Cortisol responds to illness and and helps regulate body metabolism. Cortisol stimulates glucose production and has significant anti-inflammatory effects.
Adrenaline, noradrenaline and small amounts of dopamine are responsible for all the physiological characteristics
of the stress response, the so called 'fight or flight' response.
Testosterone plays an important role in sexual arousal, sexual response, libido, bone strength, cardiovascular health, cognitive performance, energy levels and well-being in women. 

In a stress response, adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and increases energy supplies. Cortisol dampens all non-essential functions in a fight and flight situation. It alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes. Natures alarm system communicates with regions of your brain that control mood, motivation and fear.

Once a perceived threat has passed, hormone levels return to normal. But in the case of chronic perceived stress, the adrenal glands persistently secrete hormones and become fatigued resulting in a potentially dangerous situation. Initially you may experience some of the following:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Digestive problems

• Headaches

• Sleep problems

• Weight gain

• Memory and concentration impairment

During peri-menopause the adrenal glands produce a hormone that mimics oestrogen. With already diminishing oestrogen levels, exhausted adrenal glands cannot produce adequate amounts adding to the already ageing affects of low oestrogen levels. Long term adrenal fatigue can also result in lower levels of testosterone; lowering libido, thinning bones, damaging cardiovascular health, causing cognitive impairment and low evergy levels.

More serious conditions of adrenal fatigue are overproduction of aldosterone causing treatment resistant high blood pressure. The adrenals may become overactive resulting in Cushing’s Syndrome. Underactive adrenals may result in Addison’s disease. You can do your own research into these diseases if you want to. But I want to highlight that stress should be treated seriously rather than being ignored or dismissed as something to deal with later.

Lifestyle changes may be required; even a change of career! I’m sure you know the score by now, but just in case:

• Deal with any unresolved trauma through counseling.

• Get regular exercise (overexercising is stressful on the body so take it easy).

• Eat a healthy diet.

• Practice relaxation techniques or take up yoga.

• Take time for hobbies.

• Spend time in nature.

• Make time for friends.

• Take action to improve quality of sleep.

Stay well.