6 surprising reasons your cholesterol may spike

Written by: Dr Subita Alagh Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra 17 June 2025

[{"selector":"#anim-a62e2682-0214-44f7-843a-c18f330743b5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc7711e5-96ec-4f32-b200-635752bd6942","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] High cholesterol isn't only about diet. These 6 hidden factors could be quietly raising your cholesterol levels. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Coffee Overload

[{"selector":"#anim-0e701e2f-ec5f-486b-be4a-22f869a09e0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f38888e4-c360-4904-a9a4-ce6d9d6383be","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b09c4dd-5198-4cf7-9a54-3cd5e44446d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae73bbda-27a5-4152-b9e2-d69280839a16","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 645.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Drinking 4+ cups a day may increase LDL ("bad") cholesterol due to compounds like diterpenes. Try limiting strong brews. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Stress Spike

[{"selector":"#anim-666022e7-8f61-47a4-a6b4-c12f9aed7aa5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-92c126fd-fcc0-47c9-a4c4-6ae104442d0e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2bc9d728-fce2-45ca-b969-2339a4d649af","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1dd3d19e-b876-4577-b0c4-6b9f3b95182f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 645.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Chronic stress raises cortisol, which can increase LDL and total cholesterol. Relaxation techniques like breathing exercises or yoga can help. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Smoking

[{"selector":"#anim-07fb23f5-2e46-40f9-af69-cdeff27d7c5e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b112ad1d-8758-46c2-ac1d-51b476fa5741","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-318fc76f-2490-4fce-8fd9-761d30f8bf23","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b74874ee-d3f7-4ab7-9fd4-8b34640bfde0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 645.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cigarettes reduce HDL ("good") cholesterol and increase heart risks. Quitting helps restore a healthier cholesterol balance. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Certain Medications

[{"selector":"#anim-f77e577a-460e-462b-adb0-8520354f5f73","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c326ba7-cc71-48b0-92de-e8ab913f00bc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.21653%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f88dfe78-f651-4ed0-9822-33f7a2c6ec65","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf2ba0e8-df92-4d2f-8e8e-6d24c5a152be","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 750.61766%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Some drugs (diuretics, steroids, antivirals, antipsychotics) can raise cholesterol levels by affecting lipid metabolism. Always consult your doctor if you're concerned. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Pregnancy Changes

[{"selector":"#anim-ba95692b-0abc-484c-b3fd-532e870edd87","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da6f48e5-8f7d-4265-8f2c-b0bb2d3ce2e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 141.65046%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b6ce856-9f2d-4807-b5f7-747a59398424","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-251ba7d6-f575-4527-b7fc-d28b1ba1a135","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 750.61766%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cholesterol naturally increases in pregnancy to support fetal growth. But excessive rise (gestational hypercholesterolemia) may need monitoring. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Rapid Weight Loss

[{"selector":"#anim-f0b69d80-ec61-4c62-8bcb-ec08b554d594","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af96bf64-f4ef-4da6-9dd0-00cae9e245e9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 165.90562%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9b1950d-fbeb-4903-a442-f8a27bf58b2d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f507855d-760e-48ff-a3d7-03bd1d9b39c6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 750.61766%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Quick diets or keto plans can trigger temporary cholesterol spikes due to metabolic shifts. Aim for steady, supported weight loss. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Know, Test, Act

[{"selector":"#anim-dc50f245-eadf-4259-9aa0-6125f40d47b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1f39573-c933-48ec-87c0-083944937e4f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 141.65046%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f38e73fd-b5b2-4053-84f9-a38d69299f6a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-abaf8179-fc0d-43c7-a766-4758df791113","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 750.61766%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Temporary or not, sudden spikes in cholesterol signal a need for attention. Get a blood test, review your lifestyle, and consult your doctor to protect your heart. Photo Credit: Shutterstock