Its no secret that stress can suppress your immune system—and leave you wide open to a variety of diseases. But studies show that the amount of stress you experience can even affect your cholesterol levels!
Catherine Stoney, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Ohio State University, studied 127 airline pilots and 100 medical students. She found that the mens bad LDL cholesterol rose 5 percent during high stress periods. Womens cholesterol showed no stress-related rise.
Stoney also found that medical students with high scores on tests to measure conscientiousness had good HDL cholesterol levels about 4 percent higher than those who scored lower. Hows that for proof of the power in positive thinking!