How your sleeping habits affect your cholesterol levels

Here’s why you should always get enough sleep no matter how busy your lifestyle is.

When managing high cholesterol, many people think it’s all about healthy eating and exercise. However, other factors – such as the amount of sleep you get each night – can affect your cholesterol levels.

Shorter and longer sleep durations have long been revealed to affect one’s health negatively. One’s sleeping habits may affect the risk for developing various diseases1 such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and atherosclerosis. Combined with poor eating habits, lack of exercise, smoking, and drinking, a bad sleeping routine can lead to worrying health consequences.

But how does this really happen? And does sleep influence one’s cholesterol levels as well?

Surprisingly, it does.

Too much and too little sleep are both harmful

While we’d typically think that lack of sleep is the culprit behind most health problems, sleeping for extended periods also have negative consequences.

A study published on the Sleep Journal2 states that both too much and too little sleep can affect one’s cholesterol levels.

Too much sleep would mean more than 8 hours every night, while too little sleep is roughly equivalent to less than six hours every night3. Both of these are associated with low levels of HDL aka the good cholesterol and high levels of LDL aka bad cholesterol.

How does this happen?

According to an article in the Scientific Reports journal4, lack of sleep may alter the genes responsible for regulating cholesterol. In the study, it was shown that people who don’t get sufficient sleep (4 hours or less each night) have less HDL cholesterol than those with sufficient sleep5. HDL (good) cholesterol helps lower LDL (bad) cholesterol from the blood and arteries.

Hence, with low levels of good cholesterol in the body, the risk for atherosclerosis or buildup of plaque in the arteries increases, which may lead to heart attack or stroke.

When to talk to your doctor

If you have any risk factors for high cholesterol, it’s best to talk to your doctor and get a cholesterol test. Also, if you have sleeping problems such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and other conditions that prevent you from getting a peaceful shut-eye, bring this to your doctor’s attention.

It will also help to try relaxation techniques before bedtime. Yoga and meditation are popular choices, but calming activities like reading and listening to music may also help. If these don’t work, your doctor may be able to help you by recommending effective and safe medications.

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While better sleep doesn’t guarantee healthier cholesterol levels, it won’t hurt to start getting enough sleep every night. Taking care of your heart means taking care of yourself holistically. Eat healthier, exercise, get a good night sleep, and listen to your doctor in order to keep your body and mind in top form.

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.