subject: Symptoms And Treatment For Low Cholesterol Level [print this page] We have all heard about how bad high cholesterol is for our body but most people do not think about what could happen if our cholesterol levels were actually too low. Know one really ever talks about having really low cholesterol because all the focus has been on preventing high cholesterol. Believe it or not there are people who do have a problem making enough good cholesterol which our bodies need to survive.
Low cholesterol symptoms:
Before you can know if your cholesterol levels are too high or too low you have to have your levels checked by the doctor. If you are concerned about your cholesterol levels, then you should talk to your doctor about having a blood test done. A lot of people have no idea that their cholesterol levels are elevated or lower than average. Unless you are overweight or showing signs of high blood pressure you may not have your levels checked regularly. Doctors often recommend that people start getting their levels checked once they are in there mid-40s however as part of your yearly physical exam you should start asking to have your levels reviewed starting at age 20.
Once you have your levels checked it helps to know what the results mean. There are total cholesterol levels, bad cholesterol levels and good cholesterol levels. If your total cholesterol level is above 200mg/dl then you are starting to get in the unhealthy and high cholesterol range. However if your total cholesterol levels drop below 160mg/dl then you are on your way to having low cholesterol. Around 180 mg/dl is considered healthy and normal.
Having high cholesterol raises your risk of having clogged arteries which can lead to heart attack or stroke. But what risk factors come with having a cholesterol level that is too low? Well studies have shown that cholesterol that is too low can also be linked to heart disease and strokes. Although it seems a little ironic, this validates the fact that having your cholesterol levels balanced is very important. Having really low total cholesterol levels may be linked to certain forms of cancer. Depression and anxiety may be symptoms of having lower than average levels of cholesterol as well as having a Vitamin D deficiency. Many people who have low cholesterol levels can also suffer from mental impairments such as thoughts of suicide and violent thoughts or behavior.
Treatment of Cholesterol
Drug treatment is used along with with dietary changes to lower cholesterol levels. Several types of medications are available for cholesterol lowering, including statins, bile acid sequestrants, niacin, and fibric acids. Your doctor can help decide which one is best for you.
Statins have proven to be very effective and well-tolerated in most patients and are regarded as the treatment of choice for lowering "bad" cholesterol levels. These include aorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin calcium (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor). The frequency of side effects with these medications is generally very low, but nausea, gas, constipation, and abdominal cramping may occur. Headache, muscle pain, and liver problems have been reported in some cases. Statins work in the liver to interrupt the formation of cholesterol from the circulating blood.
Ezetimibe (Zetia) is a newer drug that lowers LDL (?bad?) cholesterol by working in the digestive tract to reduce the absorption of cholesterol. It is sometimes prescribed along with a statin.
Bile acid sequestrants lower LDL levels and are used alone or in combination with statin drugs. This type of drug includes cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid), and colesevelam (Welchol). Bile acid sequestrants can be unpalatable and cause gastrointestinal effects (such as bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and constipation).
Niacin (nicotinic acid), a B vitamin, lowers LDL and triglyceride levels, and is very effective in raising HDL cholesterol levels. Side effects include hot flashes, nausea, indigestion, gas, and high blood sugar. A newer medication, Advicor, combines niacin to boost "good" cholesterol and lovastatin to lower "bad" cholesterol.
Fibric acids are used mainly to treat high triglyceride and low HDL levels. Three are currently available in the United States: gemfibrozil (Lopid), fenofibrate (Tricor), and clofibrate (Atromid-S). Fibrates are generally well tolerated but occasionally cause nausea, bloating, gas, and the formation of gallstones. Fibrates are often used in conjunction with another drug, such as statins, to reduce LDL levels.
