A stressful job may lead to higher cholesterol levels – which can increase your risk of heart disease, a stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Spanish research investigated the link between job stress and lipid (fat) levels in the blood of more than 90,000 people. The research found that people who experienced difficulties coping with their job (managing workloads, meeting demands) had higher levels of “bad cholesterol” (LDL cholesterol) and lower levels of “good cholesterol” (HDL cholesterol). High levels of LDL cholesterol can clog up the arteries, increasing an individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease.