We all fear high cholesterol, don't we? How concerned we are about having a heart attack or stroke. We control our diet, exercise, and take the medications our doctor prescribes. But did you know that too low cholesterol can sometimes be a symptom of another health problem? In medical terms, we call this condition hypocholesterolemia. Today we are talking about this topic that many people do not pay attention to, but it is worth knowing.
What is cholesterol? How low is too low?
Simply put, cholesterol is an oil-like substance found in our blood. It is needed in the right amount to stay healthy. It helps our body do many things, such as build cells, produce hormones, and make vitamin D.
Now look, there are two main types of cholesterol. You may have heard of these.
1. LDL (Low-density lipoprotein): This is what we call "bad" cholesterol. If it increases, it can stick to the walls of our blood vessels and clog them. This is the main cause of heart disease.
2. HDL (High-density lipoprotein): We call this the "good" cholesterol. Because it removes the "bad" cholesterol (LDL) from the blood vessels and carries it to the liver. It is then eliminated from the body.
You can find out what your cholesterol levels are with a simple blood test. We call it a lipid profile test. This shows your LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol levels.
| Cholesterol level | Healthy/recommended level | The level considered 'very low' |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cholesterol | About 150 mg/dL | Less than 120 mg/dL |
| LDL ("bad" cholesterol) | About 100 mg/dL | Less than 50 mg/dL |
Remember, these values are general recommendations. Your doctor will determine what is a healthy level for you based on your age, other medical conditions, and other factors.
Why does cholesterol drop so abnormally?
There are many reasons why cholesterol levels can drop to very low levels. This is not just a coincidence, but can often be a sign of another problem in the body.
Here are some of the main reasons:
- Genetic conditions that run in families: Some very rare genetic diseases can cause low cholesterol levels from birth.
- Malnutrition: Not eating a nutritious diet or not eating enough can cause low cholesterol.
- Malabsorption: Some people have intestinal problems that prevent their body from properly absorbing the fat in their food. This can also cause low cholesterol levels.
- Anemia: This means a decrease in red blood cells in the blood.
- Thyroid problems: Conditions such as an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
- Liver disease: Since the liver performs a major role in producing and controlling cholesterol, liver disease can affect it.
- Some infections: Some infectious conditions such as Hepatitis C.
- Cancer: Some types of cancer can also cause this.
- Being seriously ill or undergoing surgery: When the body is under great stress, cholesterol levels can temporarily decrease.
What are the risks of lowering cholesterol?
Most of the time, low cholesterol doesn't cause any major problems. However, very rarely, doctors talk about a risk of developing certain health problems due to this condition.
They are:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Brain bleeding
- Cancer
- Premature delivery or low birth weight of pregnant mothers
But we shouldn't panic here. These are very rare things. Also, research is still being done on the relationship between low cholesterol and these conditions. So don't panic and think about these things as soon as you find out that your cholesterol is low. The most important thing is to talk to your doctor about this.
How is this treated?
If a blood test shows that your cholesterol level is too low, your doctor will likely run a few more tests to find the cause. Because, as we discussed earlier, this could be a symptom of another condition.
- Treating the underlying cause: In most cases, once the underlying condition that caused the low cholesterol (e.g., thyroid problem, liver disease) is treated, cholesterol levels will return to a healthy level.
- Vitamins: Sometimes your doctor may recommend taking fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, and K. But remember, don't take these vitamins without consulting your doctor. They are stored in the body, and taking too much can be harmful.
- No treatment needed: In some cases, depending on the cause of your low cholesterol, your doctor may decide that no treatment is necessary.
High or low cholesterol levels don't show any specific symptoms. You may only find out about it after a blood test.
That's why it's important to get your cholesterol checked at regular intervals , usually every 4-6 years. If you have heart disease, diabetes, or a family history of cholesterol problems, it's best to get checked even more frequently.
Take-Home Message
- Both high and abnormally low cholesterol levels can be a sign of a health problem.
- Often, low cholesterol is due to another underlying cause, such as malnutrition, liver disease, or thyroid problems.
- Since there are no specific symptoms of low cholesterol, it is very important to have your blood tested at the scheduled time as advised by your doctor.
- If you find out that your cholesterol level is low, don't panic, talk to your doctor about it and what to do. Never take vitamins or other things based on guesswork.
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