Cholesterol is an organic compound that belongs to lipids. Most often, people are diagnosed with its increase, which requires immediate medical intervention. However, low cholesterol is no less dangerous. In women, this compound performs many important functions in the body. Lack of cholesterol negatively affects the operation of all systems and can lead to the development of complications that are dangerous not only for he alth, but also for life. If you experience the first alarming symptoms, it is recommended to see 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 first that is called “good” cholesterol. Why is this?
Cholesterol is the main building material in the human body. In the lastmost 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 transported in the bloodstream with the help of specific particles that perform the transport function, lipoproteins. They can be low or high density. The former settle on the walls of blood vessels (and with them, respectively, cholesterol), which significantly increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis and other pathologies.
High-density lipoproteins carry the compound to the liver, where it is burned. In this case, it is customary to talk about "good" cholesterol, without which the normal functioning of the body is impossible.
Functions in the body
The fat-like compound is directly involved in many vital processes. What cholesterol is responsible for:
- Strengthens cell walls.
- Produces bile acid, whose job is to break down fats in the intestines.
- Takes part in the synthesis of vitamin D. In addition, it contributes to the production of the female hormone estrogen.
- 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 takes part in almost all metabolic processes in a woman's body. “Good” at the same time cleanses the walls of blood vessels from “bad” and transfers it to the liver for further utilization. That is why it is very important to maintain optimal levels of good cholesterol. Scientists have found that the process of synthesizing 1 g of a substance takes approximately 24 hours.
Indicators of the norm in women
With age, the values change, which is due to natural physiological processes. It is important to understand that it is necessary to do a blood test for total cholesterol in order to prevent various kinds of diseases, but it is uninformative. To obtain an accurate picture, it is necessary to pass the biomaterial on the lipid profile. This is a test that can be used to judge the concentration of both high and low density lipoproteins.
Information about the rate 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 lipoprotein, mmol/L |
| 5-10 | From 2, 26 to 5, 3 | From 1, 63 to 3, 34 | From 0.98 to 1.94 |
| 11-15 | From 3, 21 to 5, 2 | From 1, 66 to 3, 44 | From 0.96 to 1.91 |
| 16-20 | From 3, 08 to 5, 18 | From 1, 61 to 3, 37 | From 0.78 to 1.63 |
| 21-25 | From 3, 16 to 5, 59 | From 1, 71 to 3, 81 | From 0.78 to 1.63 |
| 26-30 | From 3, 32 to 5, 75 | From 1, 81 to 4, 27 | From 0.8 to 1.63 |
| 31-35 | From 3, 37 to 5, 96 | From 2, 02 to 4, 79 | From 0,72 to 1, 63 |
| 36-40 | From 3, 63 to 6, 27 | 2, 1 to 4, 9 | From 0.75 to 1.6 |
| 41-45 | From 3, 81 to 6, 53 | From 2, 25 to 4, 82 | From 0.7 to 1.73 |
| 46-50 | From 3, 94 to 6, 86 | From 2, 51 to 5, 23 | From 0.78 to 1.66 |
| 51-55 | From 4, 2 to 7, 38 | From 2, 31 to 5, 1 | From 0.72 to 1.63 |
| 56-60 | From 4, 45 to 7, 77 | From 2, 28 to 5, 26 | From 0.72 to 1.84 |
| 61-65 | From 4, 45 to 7, 69 | From 2, 15 to 5, 44 | From 0.78 to 1.91 |
| 66-70 | From 4, 43 to 7, 85 | From 2, 54 to 5, 44 | From 0.78 to 1.94 |
| 71 and over | From 4, 48 to 7, 25 | From 2, 49 to 5, 34 | From 0.8 to 1.94 |
Reducing or increasing cholesterol during pregnancy is considered normal. It is associated with hormonal changes in the body. In all other cases, complex diagnostics are required, since the 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 an increase in the level of an organic compound. If women have low cholesterol in their blood, this means that the body is deprived of building material and cannot synthesize vitalComponents. In addition, there is a violation of metabolic processes.
Causes of low cholesterol in women:
- Long-term adherence to an extremely low-calorie diet.
- Pronounced exhaustion of the body.
- Malabsorption syndrome, characterized by impaired absorption of nutrients in the intestines.
- Sepsis.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Severe liver pathology.
- Presence of extensive burns.
- Anemia.
- Tuberculosis.
- Taking certain medications (particularly those containing interferon, estrogen, and MAO inhibitors).
- Anorexia.
- Diseases of the digestive system.
- Unbalanced diet.
- Long exposure to stress.
- Intoxication with s alts of heavy metals.
- Infectious diseases.
In addition, low cholesterol in women may be due to a genetic predisposition to this condition.
Clinical manifestations
The representatives of the stronger sex are much stronger than men, feel the changes taking place in the body. In women, low cholesterol is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Disturbance of appetite up to its absence.
- Signs of steatorrhea. This is a pathological condition in which a large number of particles of undigested fat can be found in the feces.
- Weakness and soreness in muscle tissue.
- Reduce the degree of sensitivity of the skin.
- Uncontrolled aggression towards other people.
- No response to reflexes.
- Decreased libido.
- Apathy. Some women go into deep depression.
When the first warning signs appear, you should consult a doctor. It is important to take timely measures aimed at increasing the "good" and reducing the "bad" cholesterol. This is the only way to avoid the development of serious complications.
Diagnosis
Information on how to raise cholesterol can be provided by a therapist. This is a generalist who will issue a referral for diagnostics and, based on its results, 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 the amount of 5 ml.
The results will be as informative and accurate as possible if you prepare responsibly for the study. For this you need:
- Do not eat 8-10 hours before biomaterial sampling.
- For 2 days, give up high-intensity physical activity.
- Do not drink alcohol for 48 hours.
In addition, if the patient is taking drugs that affect cholesterol, they should be temporarily discontinued.
Donate blood for analysis is necessary not only in the presence of alarming symptoms. Study regularlymust be passed by persons who are at risk.
These include:
- Women who have undergone menopause.
- Patients with diabetes.
- Persons who have had a previous stroke or myocardial infarction.
- Smokers.
- Overweight women.
- The fair sex, whose lifestyle does not imply physical activity.
Research can be done 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 drugs increase cholesterol
Drug therapy is prescribed only in severe cases, when the level of an organic compound falls to a critically low level. In this situation, drugs whose active ingredient is nicotinic acid can help. This is a substance that helps to increase the level of "good" and reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol.
The doctor must provide information regarding the intake of all drugs. This is because certain medications can raise cholesterol levels.
The following remedies have this side effect:
- "Prednisolone".
- Beta-blockers (Atenolol, Metoprolol).
- Amiodarone.
- Products containing estrogen.
- Progestin.
- Cyclosporin.
- Protease inhibitors.
- Diuretics.
Thus, drug treatment is a last resort in the fight against low cholesterol. In most cases, making lifestyle and dietary adjustments is sufficient.
Non-drug therapy
To improve your well-being and avoid the development of dangerous complications, it is enough to follow the following rules:
- Be active. Doctors advise women to exercise regularly on a stationary bike or swim in the pool.
- Quit smoking.
- Minimize episodes of drinking.
Also, it is extremely important to avoid getting into stressful situations.
Features of food
Women with low levels of a vital compound should definitely make dietary adjustments. Cholesterol Raising Foods:
- Meat and offal.
- Fish.
- Seafood.
- Milk and dairy products.
- Chicken eggs.
- Vegetables.
- Fruits.
- Nuts.
- Seeds.
- Vegetable oils.
- Baked goods.
- Coffee with cream.
It's important to know that cholesterol-raising foods are high in saturated fat. You don't have to get carried away using them. It is enough to include them in the menu 2-3 times a week.
Many women are interested in whether sugar and foods containing it increase cholesterol. Yes, but in this case, the indicator of low lipoproteins changes upwardsdensity.
Consequences
Ignoring the warning symptoms leads to the development of the following complications:
- Lack of libido.
- Infertility (cholesterol is involved in the synthesis of such hormones, without which conception is impossible).
- Depression. Many patients are suicidal.
- Osteoporosis.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Hemorrhagic stroke.
- Pathologies of the digestive system.
Thus, low cholesterol is a danger not only to he alth, but also to the life of a woman.
In closing
Cholesterol is an organic compound that performs a number of important functions in the body. Against the background of its decrease, the work of most systems is deteriorating. In this regard, when the first warning signs appear, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will conduct diagnostic measures, tell you how to increase cholesterol through a diet and draw up the most effective treatment regimen.
