Understanding the Link Between High Cholesterol and Headaches
Headaches can have many different causes. From stress and eyestrain to sinus infections and migraines, headache triggers abound. But could high cholesterol be one of them? Here's a closer look at the potential link between high cholesterol and headaches.
What Is High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that travels through your bloodstream. Your body needs some cholesterol to function properly. However, having too much cholesterol in your blood, known as high cholesterol, can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
High cholesterol doesn't cause any obvious symptoms. The only way to know if your cholesterol levels are too high is through a simple blood test. Ideal total cholesterol levels should be below 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
Common Causes of High Cholesterol
High cholesterol can be caused by dietary and lifestyle factors as well as genetics and medical conditions. Eating too many saturated and trans fats found in meat, dairy, and processed foods is a key contributor. Being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle also raise cholesterol.
In some cases, genetic factors cause high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol or low HDL (good) cholesterol. Certain health conditions like diabetes and kidney disease can also impact cholesterol.
How High Cholesterol Impacts Your Body
When you have excessive LDL cholesterol circulating in your blood, the cholesterol can slowly build up in the walls of your arteries. This plaque narrows your arteries, making it harder for blood to flow.
If a blood clot forms and blocks one of these narrowed arteries, it can lead to a heart attack or stroke. The plaque can also break off and travel to the heart, brain or other areas, blocking blood flow.
Can High Cholesterol Cause Headaches?
There isn’t strong evidence that high cholesterol directly results in headaches. However, there are some theories about how the two might be linked:
- Plaque buildup in neck and scalp arteries may potentially trigger headaches in some people.
- High cholesterol could contribute to blood vessel inflammation that can cause headaches.
- HDL helps remove excess cholesterol from the body. Low levels allow more LDL to circulate which could impact headaches.
That said, headaches are not considered a typical symptom or consequence of high cholesterol. If you have frequent headaches along with high cholesterol, the two factors are likely unrelated.
Other Potential Causes of Headaches to Consider
Since headaches can have so many triggers, it’s important to work with your doctor to pinpoint the exact cause. Here are some other common culprits to consider if you often have headaches:
Migraines
Migraines cause moderate to severe throbbing headaches that can last hours or days if untreated. Nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound often occur too. Migraines can run in families or be tied to fluctuating estrogen levels.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches lead to pressure or tightening on both sides of the head. Stress, poor posture, anxiety, and depression can trigger them. Overusing pain medications can also cause rebound tension headaches.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches, one of the most painful types, come on suddenly without warning. The excruciating stabbing pain centers around one eye and side of the head in frequent attacks for weeks or months.
Sinus Headaches
Sinus headaches cause pain in the face and forehead along with nasal congestion or discharge. They occur when the sinuses and nasal passages become inflamed from infections or allergies.
Rebound Headaches
Frequent use of decongestants, pain relievers, and triptans for migraine can backfire and actually worsen headaches. This “rebound effect” forces you to take more meds which further raises sensitivity to pain.
Lifestyle Changes To Lower High Cholesterol and Headaches
Making heart-healthy lifestyle changes can help lower cholesterol levels. And they have the added bonus of preventing headaches in some cases too!
Follow a Nutritious Diet
Boost your fruit/veggie intake, choose whole grains over refined, and swap saturated/trans fats for healthier monounsaturated and omega-3 fats from olive oil, nuts and fish. Limiting sodium and added sugars helps too. A balanced, nutritious diet provides vitamins/minerals lacking in some headache sufferers.
Exercise Regularly
Aim for at least 30 minutes per day of brisk walking, jogging, cycling or similar cardio exercise to rev up your heart rate. As an added perk, working out releases endorphins that relieve stress known to trigger certain vascular and tension headaches.
Lose Extra Weight
If you’re overweight, safely shedding some pounds can significantly lower high LDL and triglycerides while bumping up protective HDL. And maintaining a healthy weight helps avoid obesity which is linked to headaches like migraines.
Reduce Stress
Untamed stress from work, relationships and other aspects of life can translate into tension headaches, migraines and cluster headaches for some. Relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga calm the stress response for better overall health.
Improve Sleep Habits
Lack of sound sleep often goes hand-in-hand with early morning headaches and migraines. Getting enough sleep allows tissues to heal and restore which can provide headache relief. Limiting caffeine, creating a restful environment and sticking to a schedule all help.
When To Consider Medications for High Cholesterol and Headaches
While lifestyle tweaks should be your first line of treatment against high cholesterol and various headaches, medications are often needed in many cases too:
Statins and Other Cholesterol Drugs
If cholesterol remains high after 3-6 months of lifestyle changes, cholesterol-lowering medications may be prescribed. Statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, bile acid sequestrants, fibrates and nicotinic acid (niacin) are commonly used.
Migraine Medications
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen help mild migraines. But prescription meds like triptans effectively treat moderate to severe migraines stopping symptoms once underway.
Preventive Migraine Treatment
For people battling 4+ debilitating migraines per month, preventive daily medications can make attacks less frequent and severe. Beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants or antiseizure drugs may be used.
In some cases, monoclonal antibody injections or procedures to numb migraine-triggering nerves/vessels also help prevent frequent attacks.
Working closely with your doctor is key to combatting high cholesterol levels and chronic headaches. Be sure to address any side effects promptly so adjustments to treatment can be made. Consistently making heart-healthy lifestyle choices also maximizes results.
FAQs
Can high cholesterol directly cause headaches?
There is no definitive evidence that high cholesterol itself triggers headaches. However, some theories suggest plaque buildup or inflammation from high cholesterol may potentially contribute to headaches in some people.
What are some other common headache causes I should consider?
Look into migraines, tension headaches, cluster headaches, sinus headaches and rebound headaches which have known triggers like genetics, anxiety, allergies, sleep issues, and overusing pain medications.
How can I lower high cholesterol levels to help headaches?
Lifestyle tweaks like eating healthier fats, exercising, losing weight, minimizing stress and getting enough sleep can all help lower cholesterol while preventing some types of headaches.
When would I need to go on cholesterol or headache medications?
If cholesterol remains high after 3-6 months of diet/lifestyle changes, a doctor may prescribe statins or other cholesterol medications. For 4+ monthly migraines, preventive and acute migraine meds often provide relief.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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