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People also ask
What does low LDL cholesterol mean?
Is low cholesterol a sign of a disease?
What happens if you have low cholesterol?
Jul 9, 2023 · Known as hypolipidemia or hypocholesterolemia, very low cholesterol isn’t common, but it can be a sign of many other health concerns. How Low Is Too Low? Cholesterol is a fat-like substance in...
- Overview
- What causes low HDL cholesterol?
- What causes low LDL cholesterol?
- Low cholesterol symptoms
- What is the impact of low cholesterol?
- Testing cholesterol
- Treating low cholesterol
- Questions to ask a doctor
- Summary
Low cholesterol levels are known as hypolipidemia. Obesity, insulin, and smoking can cause low levels of HDL cholesterol. Low levels of LDL cholesterol may result from thyroid problems or other health issues.
People can also have low levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol. Despite the name, the body needs some LDL cholesterol to function. Very low cholesterol levels may be a sign of an underlying disease.
Some potential causes of low overall or LDL cholesterol include chronic infections, inflammation, and malnourishment.
Read on to learn more about what causes low cholesterol.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol, is beneficial cholesterol. Some common causes of low HDL cholesterol include:
•excess abdominal fat
•insulin resistance
•smoking
Losing weight and quitting smoking may help bring HDL cholesterol to a satisfactory level.
Less commonly, an underlying medical condition may lower HDL cholesterol:
LDL cholesterol is informally known as “bad” cholesterol. Usually, doctors encourage people to lower LDL cholesterol levels. However, when LDL levels fall below 50 milligramsperdeciliter(mg/dL) of blood, this may signal a health problem or cause symptoms.
Low LDL cholesterol is less common than low HDL cholesterol. Typically, it is secondary to another medical condition, such as:
•malnourishment from poor nutrition, or from disorders that affect a person’s ability to absorb nutrients
•hyperthyroidism
•chronic infections, such as hepatitis C
•chronic inflammation
People with low cholesterol will not necessarily have symptoms. When they do, those symptoms may be from the low cholesterol itself or from the underlying disease that is causing low cholesterol.
Some potential symptoms of low cholesterol include:
•fatty stool
•depression
•vision changes
•hormonal imbalances
HDL cholesterol protects against the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. People with low HDL cholesterol may have high LDL cholesterol or high total cholesterol. This increases their risk of heart disease.
Low overall cholesterol has different effects. Cholesterol helps the body make vitamin D, steroid hormones, such as cortisol, and sex hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. Low cholesterol levels may affect the synthesis of these chemicals.
It also helps the body produce the bile necessary for digestion and absorption of vitamins A, K, E, and D and helps form the cell membrane of each cell in the body.
Without cholesterol, many bodily functions may not work as well. This can affect metabolism, nutritional status, and mental and physical health.
Most laboratories determine a person has hypolipidemia if there is less than 120 mg/dL of cholesterol in their blood or less than 50 mg/dL of LDL cholesterol.
Doctors test cholesterol with a lipid panel. This is a blood test that measures concentrations of lipids, including cholesterol, in the blood.
The typical ranges for cholesterol in adults are as follows:
A doctor may recommend additional tests, such as tests for genetic disorders or infections, to find the underlying cause of low cholesterol.
Treatment for low cholesterol depends on the type of low cholesterol a person has and what caused it.
Low HDL often gets better with lifestyle changes such as:
•quitting smoking
•attaining a moderate weight
•becoming more physically active
Low LDL cholesterol may require treatment if a person has symptoms or an underlying genetic disorder. Treatment for the genetic disorders that cause low LDL cholesterol may include taking vitamin E supplements and other fat-soluble vitamins. Sometimes, a doctor may recommend supplementing the diet with more fat.
Some questions to ask a doctor include:
•Is my cholesterol too low?
•Does it require treatment?
•Will any diet or lifestyle changes help?
•Could my medication be causing low cholesterol?
•Is low cholesterol responsible for my symptoms?
Low HDL cholesterol is relatively common. It may be due to lifestyle or a medical condition. Low LDL or overall cholesterol is less common and may signal an underlying medical condition or a genetic disorder.
The effects of and treatment for low cholesterol depend on its cause. Talk with a doctor about treatment, diagnosis, and management.
Nov 17, 2022 · There is no consensus on how to define very low LDL cholesterol, but LDL would be considered very low if it is less than 40 milligrams per deciliter of blood. Although the risks are rare, very low levels of LDL cholesterol may be associated with an increased risk of: Cancer. Hemorrhagic stroke.
Feb 16, 2024 · Studies suggest that an optimal total cholesterol level is about 150 mg/dL, with LDL-C at or below 100 mg/dL, and adults with LDL-C in this level have lower rates of heart disease and stroke. Talk to your health care professional.
Aug 23, 2022 · Definition. Causes. Risk factors. Symptoms. Complications. Diagnosis. Treatment. Prevention. Takeaway. Most discussions around cholesterol focus on hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) because...
Jan 20, 2020 · Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol is a clearly established risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Lowering LDL with medications and/or lifestyle changes has been shown to lower CVD risk. Just how far to lower LDL, however, has remained controversial.
May 5, 2023 · Q&A. It’s possible for cholesterol to be too low. However, this is much less common than high cholesterol. Low cholesterol may be linked to other medical conditions, such as cancer,...
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related to: low cholesterol what does it meanVisit the Official HCP Website and Find a Treatment Option to Lower High LDL Cholesterol. Watch Real Patient Stories and See How This Treatment Option Helped Lower Their LDL-C.
