Is High Cholesterol Behind Your Headaches? Find Out Now
High cholesterol is a common health problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 39% of adults worldwide have high cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. But can it also cause headaches?
While headaches aren’t a classic sign of high cholesterol, some studies suggest there could be a connection. Cholesterol buildup can lead to poor blood flow in the arteries, which might trigger headaches, dizziness, or even migraines. High blood pressure—which is frequently associated with excessive cholesterol—can also increase the likelihood of headaches.
Find out how high cholesterol might cause headaches and dizziness, along with symptoms you should watch out for and ways to keep your cholesterol under control.
What Happens to Your Body with High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a vital part of your body. It helps produce hormones and keeps your arteries healthy. However, not all cholesterol is beneficial for you.
There are two main types:
LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein)
Described as “bad” cholesterol. Eating too many foods heavy in trans or saturated fats can increase LDL levels. Too much LDL can cause major health problems such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, and migraines.
HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein)
Called “good” cholesterol. It’s made by your liver and helps remove extra LDL from your blood.
The liver produces all of the cholesterol required by the body. Extra cholesterol from meals, particularly unhealthy fats, can raise LDL. This buildup can eventually lead to plaque formation in your arteries, which can obstruct blood flow. This puts you at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, and other significant health problems.
Can High Cholesterol Cause Headaches?
While there isn’t direct scientific evidence that high cholesterol alone causes headaches, there is an indirect connection. The headaches may result from complications caused by high cholesterol, such as:
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Plaque buildup in arteries can reduce blood flow and cause high blood pressure. This can cause headaches, especially at the base of the skull or at the temples. High blood pressure is a known trigger for chronic headaches.
Atherosclerosis and Reduced Blood Flow
High cholesterol can cause plaque buildup in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis, resulting in dizziness and unsteadiness. This buildup can reduce blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which might lead to headaches. However, many other factors unrelated to cholesterol can also cause headaches.
Carotid Artery Disease
High cholesterol can cause carotid artery disease, in which the major arteries in the neck constrict due to the buildup of plaque. Reduced blood flow to the brain may cause head pain and increase the risk of stroke-related headaches.
Poor Circulation
Restricted blood flow to the brain and other parts of the body due to high cholesterol can lead to vascular headaches. These headaches can feel like dull, throbbing pain.
Migraine
Some research suggests a possible link between high cholesterol and migraines with aura—a type of migraine that includes visual changes like flashes of light. A 2015 study revealed that those who frequently experienced severe migraines had greater total cholesterol and LDL, also known as bad cholesterol.
What Happens to Your Body with High Cholesterol?
If headaches are linked to high cholesterol, they are usually due to reduced blood flow caused by plaque buildup in the arteries. Here are some symptoms that may suggest a connection between high cholesterol and dizziness or headaches:
- Pressure or Tightness in the Head – Often feels like a dull, squeezing pain.
- Headaches with Dizziness – Reduced blood flow can lead to lightheadedness.
- Recurring or Chronic Headaches – If persistent and paired with other high cholesterol symptoms, it could be worth checking your cholesterol levels.
- Blurred Vision or Visual Disturbances – Sometimes seen in migraines with aura, which may be linked to high cholesterol.
- Neck or Back of the Head Pain – Can result from tension caused by high blood pressure, often related to high cholesterol.
- Headaches with Chest Pain or Shortness of Breath – These could indicate a cardiovascular issue and need immediate medical attention.
How to Relieve Headaches Caused by High Cholesterol?
High cholesterol levels can sometimes cause headaches, especially when there is insufficient blood supply to the brain. Knowing how to manage cholesterol can help reduce these headaches and improve your overall health.
Lower Your Cholesterol
If you’ve been identified as having high cholesterol, the first step is to adopt lifestyle modifications. Regular exercise, a nutritious diet, quitting smoking, and cutting back on alcohol can all help decrease cholesterol.
Reducing cholesterol might not directly cure headaches, but many headache treatments overlap with cholesterol management. Managing stress, eating well, exercising, and staying hydrated can reduce both headaches and cholesterol at the same time.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise is one of the best ways to improve your health. It helps reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol while increasing “good” HDL cholesterol. Studies show that combining exercise with a healthy diet can reduce total cholesterol.
To reap the benefits, aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week (such as walking, biking, dancing, or even home cleaning).
Eat a Healthy Diet
Your liver produces all the cholesterol your body needs, and extra cholesterol comes from what you eat. Saturated fat has a greater impact on blood cholesterol than cholesterol in meals.
To keep your cholesterol under control, eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight can help regulate your cholesterol levels. A high BMI (body mass index) affects how your body manages cholesterol, making it harder to remove bad LDL cholesterol.
Losing even a small amount of weight can improve your cholesterol and reduce your risk of headaches.
Quit Smoking
Smoking harms your cholesterol levels. It makes LDL cholesterol stickier, making it harder for HDL to remove from your blood. Over time, LDL accumulates in your arteries, raising your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Quitting smoking can raise your HDL levels in just a few weeks, helping your body remove LDL more effectively.
Limit Alcohol
Too much alcohol can raise triglycerides, which can lead to high cholesterol. Drinking less can help keep cholesterol levels in check.
Alcohol can also trigger headaches and migraines. So, cutting back may help reduce both cholesterol and headaches.
When Should You Worry About High Cholesterol?
Keeping track of your cholesterol is important. Your age and sex can affect cholesterol levels, and it’s normal for them to change over time. However, a big increase in cholesterol should raise concern.
Adults should have their cholesterol evaluated every 4–6 years. Regular testing helps catch unusual changes early before they become serious problems.
Cholesterol levels are usually divided into healthy, borderline, and high categories. Here’s what you should know:
- Healthy cholesterol levels vary by age and sex.
- Borderline to high cholesterol means you may be at risk for health problems.
As you get older, your cholesterol naturally rises because the liver becomes less effective at clearing LDL (bad) cholesterol. That’s why regular testing is so important. Early detection makes it easier to manage high cholesterol with small lifestyle changes.
Taking action early can help you stay on top of your cholesterol and avoid serious complications.
When Should You See a Doctor?
If you suffer from regular headaches, dizziness, or migraines, you should see a doctor. While high cholesterol might not be the direct cause, these symptoms could indicate underlying vascular problems. A blood test can validate your cholesterol levels, and your doctor can make recommendations for treatment.
Cholesterol Impacts More Than Just Your Heart
Because it rarely causes obvious symptoms, high cholesterol often goes unnoticed. However, its effects on blood flow can trigger issues like chronic headaches, revealing the hidden ways your cardiovascular health impacts your daily life. This connection highlights the importance of viewing headaches not just as isolated discomfort but as potential signs of underlying health problems. Paying attention to these subtle signals and managing cholesterol early can protect both your heart and overall well-being.
