Stress probably does not have a direct affect on cholesterol. But I can think of two potential connections between total cholesterol levels and stress. First, stress tends to elevate blood levels of the fight-and-flight hormones by stimulating the release of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol from the adrenal glands. These hormones tell the body's fat to send out more triglyceride into the blood stream. Triglyceride is one component of the total cholesterol count.
Another indirect connection is through overeating and eating the wrong foods. Many people react to stress in just this way. Stress may also cause a person to stop his or her daily exercise. The result could be an increase in total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides. In addition, not exercising might lower the HDL (good) cholesterol level.
