Can High Cholesterol Cause Headache
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Can High Cholesterol Cause Headache

Your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to function and build healthy cells, but too much cholesterol can have negative effects. High cholesterol is defined as the excessive buildup of fat in the blood.

It is well known that high cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, is a common cause of many health problems; it can be inherited, but it is usually the result of poor dietary habits and lifestyle choices.

For more information about high cholesterol, read the blog as it explores the causes, warning signs, and symptoms of high cholesterol as well as the most commonly asked question, “Can high cholesterol cause headaches?”

Does high cholesterol cause headaches?

Typically, headaches are not associated with elevated cholesterol. Research examining connections between the two health issues is scarce.

Because of this, it may be challenging to comprehend why some individuals with high cholesterol get headaches. It’s crucial to keep in mind that health issues can overlap and transcend. Although a person with high cholesterol may get headaches, this does not imply that high cholesterol causes them. Perhaps there are additional causes.

Some people’s hectic lives and significant stress are the reason for their elevated cholesterol. This may result in headaches in addition to excessive blood pressure and cholesterol. Therefore, although headaches are not caused by elevated cholesterol, they may have the same underlying cause.

Although studies have shown that high levels of total and LDL cholesterol are linked to migraines, more research and studies are required to fully understand the relationship between high cholesterol and headaches. Nevertheless, new research is emerging that suggests a link between cholesterol and migraines.

Symptoms Of Headache due to High Cholesterol

  • Neck Pain
  • Tingling Hands & Feet
  • Cholesterol Bumps on the Skin
  • Heart Palpitations
  • Gray Ring around the Cornea
  • Yellow Spots on the Eyelids

Neck Pain: “Can high cholesterol cause headaches?” This is explained by the high likelihood that cholesterol will block the arteries and blood vessels, which will hinder blood flow to and from the head and neck, causing a sore neck and headaches.

Tingling Hands & Feet: Tingling in the hands and feet is caused by a reduction in the oxygen and blood supply to the body’s peripheral areas as a result of blood vessel blockage.

Cholesterol Bumps on the Skin: Benign, yellow, lipid-filled lumps called cholesterol bumps, or xanthomas, can develop on the hands, feet, elbows, joints, and eyelids. They frequently point to a medical condition where the body’s lipids are out of equilibrium, like excessive cholesterol.

Heart Palpitations: High cholesterol causes clogged vessels, which causes the heart to beat a bit quicker than normal. Heart palpitations may be a sign of cardiovascular disease.

Gray Ring around the Cornea: Although it can be difficult to identify or find, a healthcare practitioner would be better prepared to provide guidance. A greyish ring around the cornea can be a symptom of elevated cholesterol.

Yellow Spots on the Eyelids: Xanthelasma are yellow patches on the eyelids. Fortunately, they may be eliminated with laser or acid treatments and do not pose a threat to the eyes.

When to see a doctor

High cholesterol and severe headaches are two serious health issues, and whether or not they are related, consulting a doctor is crucial if you suffer from either.

Treatment options for high-cholesterol headaches

  • Lower cholesterol
  • Exercise
  • Diet
  • Weight management
  • Quitting smoking
  • Limiting alcohol
  • Healthy Lifestyle
  • Regular Checkup

Lower cholesterol: The first thing to do after receiving a high cholesterol diagnosis is to drastically alter your lifestyle. Reducing cholesterol can be achieved by regular exercise, eating a nutritious diet, stopping smoking, and drinking less alcohol.

Headaches might not be solved by lowering cholesterol. Many of the therapies, though, are similar. For instance, persons with headaches are advised to exercise, eat healthily, drink lots of water, and control their stress.

This implies that you can reduce your cholesterol and solve your headache issue simultaneously.

Exercise: The benefits of exercise for the body are numerous.

Enzymes involved in the synthesis, transport, and degradation of lipoproteins are believed to be altered by exercise. Research has shown that, when paired with dietary modifications, exercise can raise HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL and total cholesterol.

Diet: Diet also affects cholesterol levels. Your diet is the source of any excess cholesterol because your liver produces all the cholesterol your body requires.

However, the majority of recent research indicates that the biggest factor influencing blood cholesterol levels is saturated fat rather than dietary cholesterol.

Weight management: Keeping your weight in check is essential to controlling your cholesterol levels. A high body mass index (BMI) may have an impact on how your body uses lipoproteins, such as triglycerides and cholesterol.

The liver may find it more difficult to use or eliminate bad cholesterol (LDL) as a result of the difficulty in removing LDL from blood vessels.

Quitting smoking: Smoking can have a number of detrimental effects on one’s health, including those related to cholesterol. LDL molecules may become more sticky after smoking. This may make it more difficult for HDL to exit and re-enter the liver.

LDL can accumulate in blood vessels and cause blockages over time. Additionally, smoking can lower your HDL levels, which in turn affects how well the body can return bad cholesterol to the liver for utilization or breakdown and excretion.

LDL accumulation may result in strokes as well as other cardiovascular issues.

In less than three weeks, HDL cholesterol levels can rise with quitting smoking! It can therefore be a fantastic starting point for long-term reduced cholesterol.

Limiting alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol raises the likelihood of having increased triglyceride³ levels by 46%, which can raise cholesterol. Reduce your alcohol intake to help mitigate any rise in cholesterol.

Additionally, drinking may contribute to migraine and headache symptoms. Therefore, reducing alcohol consumption may also alleviate these symptoms.

Healthy Lifestyle: Reduced cholesterol can be achieved by eating a heart-healthy diet. It can be especially helpful to eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, chicken, and fish.

Regular Checkup: A cholesterol test should be performed every four to six years. Due to changes in the body and possible changes in hormone levels, it should begin around the age of 20.

Summary

The response to the most common query, “Can high cholesterol cause headaches?” is contingent upon the cholesterol levels. A person’s general health may be at risk if they have high cholesterol. The body begins to send out signs long before a person chooses to have a test.

Consequently, it is critical to monitor your symptoms and seek medical advice in order to prevent consequences. Additionally, a healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce cholesterol levels.

FAQ’s

What are the 5 signs of high cholesterol?

Heart disease, stroke, or atherosclerosis in other blood arteries can cause symptoms including dizziness, slurred speech, unsteady gait, lower leg discomfort, or left-sided chest pain, pressure, or fullness. All of these illnesses need immediate medical attention and may be associated with elevated cholesterol.

Are headaches a symptom of high cholesterol?

High cholesterol does not currently appear to be linked to headaches. However, it is not uncommon for persons with high cholesterol to get headaches all the time. This is due to the fact that headache risk is increased by many of the same factors that cause high cholesterol.

How to treat cholesterol headaches?

Lower cholesterol. When you’re diagnosed with high cholesterol, the first step is to make some big lifestyle changes. …
Exercise. Exercise can have many positive effects on the body. …
Diet. …
Weight management. …
Quitting smoking. …
Limiting alcohol.

Can high cholesterol go away?

Indeed, it can. Engaging in physical activity facilitates the transfer of bad cholesterol, sometimes referred to as non-HDL cholesterol, to the liver for elimination from the body. Start by increasing your daily movement instead of joining a gym or going on long runs if you don’t enjoy them.

References:

  • Khan, Z., & Khan, Z. (2023, August 28). Can high cholesterol cause headaches? Revival Research Institute, LLC. https://revivalresearch.org/blogs/can-high-cholesterol-cause-headaches
  • HealthMatch staff & HealthMatch Pty Ltd. (2022, October 21). High cholesterol and headaches: The connection. HealthMatch. https://healthmatch.io/cholesterol/can-high-cholesterol-cause-headaches

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