Cholesterol is an organic compound that belongs to lipids. Most often, people are diagnosed with an increase in it, which requires immediate medical intervention. However, low cholesterol is no less dangerous. In women in the body, this compound performs many important functions. Cholesterol deficiency negatively affects the functioning of all systems and can lead to the development of complications that are dangerous not only for health but also for life. When the first alarming symptoms occur, it is recommended to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Good and bad cholesterol
In medicine, it is customary to distinguish between high and low density lipoproteins. It is the former that are called “good” cholesterol. What is the reason for this?
Cholesterol is the main building material in the human body. In the latter, most of it is synthesized. A small amount enters the body from the outside - with food.
Cholesterol is a compound that does not dissolve in water. It is transferred with a blood stream using specific particles that perform a transport function, lipoproteins. They may have low or high density. The first and settle on the walls of blood vessels (and with them, respectively, and cholesterol), which greatly increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis and other pathologies.
High density lipoproteins transfer the compound to the liver, where it burns. In this case, it is customary to talk about “good” cholesterol, without which normal functioning of the body is impossible.
Body functions
The fat-like compound is directly involved in many vital processes. What cholesterol is responsible for:
- Strengthens cell walls.
- It produces bile acid, the task of which is the breakdown of fats in the intestine.
- It takes part in the synthesis of vitamin D. In addition, it contributes to the production of the female hormone estrogen.
- It supports the normal functioning of the protective and nervous systems.
- Regulates the balance of calcium and phosphorus, on which the state of the musculoskeletal system directly depends.
Cholesterol is involved in almost all metabolic processes in the body of a woman. “Good” at the same time cleanses the walls of blood vessels from “bad” and transfers it to the liver for further disposal. That is why it is very important to maintain an optimal level of beneficial cholesterol. Scientists have found that the synthesis process of 1 g of a substance takes about 24 hours.
Normal indicators in women
With age, the values change, due to natural physiological processes. It is important to understand that blood tests for total cholesterol in order to prevent various kinds of diseases need to be done, but it is uninformative. To obtain an accurate picture, it is necessary to pass the biomaterial to the lipid profile. This study, based on the results of which it is possible to judge the concentration of lipoproteins of both high and low density.
Information on what is the norm of cholesterol in women at different ages is presented in the table below.
| Age years | Total cholesterol, mmol / l | Low density lipoproteins, mmol / L | High Density Lipoproteins, mmol / L |
| 5-10 | 2.26 to 5.3 | 1.63 to 3.34 | 0.98 to 1.94 |
| 11-15 | 3.21 to 5.2 | 1.66 to 3.44 | 0.96 to 1.91 |
| 16-20 | 3.08 to 5.18 | 1.61 to 3.37 | 0.78 to 1.63 |
| 21-25 | 3.16 to 5.59 | 1.71 to 3.81 | 0.78 to 1.63 |
| 26-30 | 3.32 to 5.75 | 1.81 to 4.27 | 0.8 to 1.63 |
| 31-35 | 3.37 to 5.96 | 2.02 to 4.79 | 0.72 to 1.63 |
| 36-40 | 3.63 to 6.27 | 2.1 to 4.9 | 0.75 to 1.6 |
| 41-45 | 3.81 to 6.53 | 2.25 to 4.82 | 0.7 to 1.73 |
| 46-50 | 3.94 to 6.86 | 2.51 to 5.23 | 0.78 to 1.66 |
| 51-55 | 4.2 to 7.38 | 2.31 to 5.1 | 0.72 to 1.63 |
| 56-60 | 4.45 to 7.77 | 2.28 to 5.26 | 0.72 to 1.84 |
| 61-65 | 4.45 to 7.69 | 2.15 to 5.44 | 0.78 to 1.91 |
| 66-70 | 4.43 to 7.85 | 2.54 to 5.44 | 0.78 to 1.94 |
| 71 years or more | 4.48 to 7.25 | 2.49 to 5.34 | 0.8 to 1.94 |
Lowering or raising cholesterol during pregnancy is considered normal. It is associated with hormonal changes in the body. In all other cases, complex diagnostics are required, since deviation of indicators from the norm often occurs against the background of the course of pathological processes.
Causes of Low Cholesterol in Women
It is important to remember that this condition is much more dangerous than increasing the level of organic compounds. If women have low cholesterol in their blood, this means that the body is deprived of building material and cannot synthesize vital components. In addition, metabolic processes are disturbed.
Causes of low cholesterol in women:
- Long-term adherence to an extremely low-calorie diet.
- Marked exhaustion of the body.
- Malabsorption syndrome, characterized by impaired absorption of nutrients in the intestine.
- Sepsis.
- Hyperthyroidism
- Severe liver disease.
- The presence of extensive burns.
- Anemia.
- Tuberculosis.
- Taking certain medications (in particular, containing interferon, estrogen and MAO inhibitors).
- Anorexia.
- Digestive system diseases.
- Unbalanced diet.
- Staying long under stress.
- Intoxication with salts of heavy metals.
- Infectious diseases.
In addition, low cholesterol in women may be due to a genetic predisposition to this condition.
Clinical manifestations
Representatives of the stronger sex are much stronger than men who feel the changes taking place in the body. In women, low cholesterol is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Violation of appetite until its absence.
- Signs of steatorrhea. This is a pathological condition in which a large amount of undigested fat particles can be found in feces.
- Weakness and pain in muscle tissue.
- Decreased sensitivity of the skin.
- Uncontrolled aggression towards others.
- Lack of reaction with reflexes.
- Decreased libido.
- Apathy. Some women are deeply depressed.
If the first alarming signs occur, you should consult a doctor. It is important to take timely measures aimed at increasing the "good" and reducing the "bad" cholesterol. The only way to avoid the development of serious complications.
Diagnostics
Information on how to raise cholesterol can be provided by a physician. This is a specialist of a wide profile who will draw up a referral for diagnosis and, based on its results, will draw up a treatment regimen. If necessary, he will refer the patient to other doctors (for example, a gastroenterologist or hepatologist).
To find out the level of cholesterol in the body, it is enough to donate blood for analysis. The biomaterial is venous fluid connective tissue. It is taken in an amount of 5 ml.
The results will be as informative and accurate as possible if you prepare responsibly for the study. To do this, you must:
- Do not eat food 8-10 hours before taking the biomaterial.
- For 2 days, abandon high-intensity physical exertion.
- For 48 hours do not drink alcohol-containing drinks.
In addition, if a patient is taking drugs that affect cholesterol, they should be temporarily discontinued.
Donating blood for analysis is necessary not only in the presence of alarming symptoms. The study regularly needs to be done to people who are at risk.
These include:
- Women who have had menopause.
- Diabetes patients.
- Persons who have previously suffered a stroke or myocardial infarction.
- Smokers.
- Overweight women.
- The fair sex, whose lifestyle does not imply motor activity.
The study can be carried out independently at home. To do this, it is enough to purchase a special device and disposable test strips at the pharmacy. However, it is important to remember that home diagnostics cannot fully replace laboratory ones.
What medications increase cholesterol
Drug therapy is prescribed only in severe cases, when the level of organic compounds drops to critically low. In this situation, drugs whose active component is nicotinic acid can help. This is a substance that helps to increase the level of "good" and lower the indicator of "bad" cholesterol.
The doctor must provide information regarding the administration of all drugs. This is due to the fact that some medications can increase cholesterol.
The following agents have such a side effect:
- "Prednisolone."
- Beta-blockers ("Atenolol", "Metoprolol").
- Amiodarone.
- Drugs containing estrogen.
- "Progestin."
- "Cyclosporin."
- Protease inhibitors.
- Diuretics.
Thus, drug treatment is an extreme measure to combat low cholesterol. In most cases, it is enough to make adjustments to the lifestyle and diet.
Non-drug therapy
To improve well-being and avoid the development of dangerous complications, it is enough to observe the following rules:
- To live an active lifestyle. Doctors recommend that women regularly exercise on a stationary bike or swim in the pool.
- Stop smoking.
- Minimize drinking episodes.
In addition, it is extremely important to avoid getting into stressful situations.
Power Features
Women with a low level of vital compounds must make adjustments to their diet. Cholesterol boosting foods:
- Meat and offal.
- Fish.
- Seafood.
- Milk and dairy products.
- Chicken eggs.
- Vegetables.
- Fruits.
- Nuts.
- Sunflower seeds.
- Vegetable oils.
- Bakery products.
- Coffee with cream.
It’s important to know that cholesterol-boosting foods are rich in saturated fats. No need to get involved in their use. It is enough to include them in the menu 2-3 times a week.
Many women are interested in whether cholesterol increases sugar and foods containing it. Yes, but in this case, the index of low density lipoproteins changes upward.
Effects
Ignoring alarming symptoms leads to the development of the following complications:
- Lack of libido.
- Infertility (cholesterol takes part in the synthesis of such hormones, without which conception is impossible).
- Depression. Many patients have a tendency to suicide.
- Osteoporosis.
- Diabetes.
- Hemorrhagic stroke.
- Pathology of the digestive system.
Thus, low cholesterol is a danger not only to health, but also to the life of a woman.
Finally
Cholesterol is an organic compound that performs a number of essential functions in the body. Against the background of its decline, the work of most systems is deteriorating. In this regard, if the first alarming signs occur, you must consult a doctor. The specialist will conduct diagnostic measures, tell you how to increase cholesterol using a diet and make the most effective treatment regimen.