PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCES ON THE VARIABILITY OF PLASMA-CHOLESTEROL

There is considerable evidence that perceived stress can cause signifi cant and occasionally large increases of plasma total and LDL choleste rol levels. This may be due to induced emotional anxiety that increase s sympathetic nervous system activity and thereby suppresses LDL chole sterol receptors. Moreover, different behavioral states may be associa ted with more sustained effects. Thus, states of behavioral ,,activati on'' tend to be associated with higher cholesterol levels, and withdra wal from life activities with lower levels.