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Cholesterol That's Too Low

Cholesterol that is too low is called hypolipidemia. Merck defines hypolipidemia as Total cholesterol less than 120, and LDL cholesterol less than 50. Following is the link to Merck's comments on this subject.

http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec12/ch159/ch159c.html

Here's what the Mayo Clinic has to say;

"Some research suggests that low levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad," cholesterol may be associated with an increased risk of certain types of cancer. Other studies associate a low total cholesterol level with depression and anxiety, perhaps because low cholesterol may reduce levels of the brain chemical serotonin. And pregnant women who have low total cholesterol may be more likely to give birth prematurely and have babies who have low birth weights.

Although the upper limits for total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol have been clearly established, the lower limits depend on the individual.

Ideally, keep your total cholesterol below 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L), and your LDL cholesterol below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L) — or below 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) if you're at very high risk of heart disease. An adult who eats a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet may have an LDL cholesterol level between 40 and 50 mg/dL (1.0 and 1.3 mmol/L) and a total cholesterol level of 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L).

It's also important to remember that high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol counts, too. A low HDL level increases the risk of heart disease. For women, a low HDL level coupled with excess weight after menopause may increase the risk of breast cancer as well. To help prevent heart disease, aim for an HDL level of 60 mg/dL (1.5 mmol/L) or higher.

If you're concerned about your cholesterol level, consult your doctor. He or she can determine the cholesterol range most appropriate for you."

Hope this helps,

Tony

I'm one of those high risk people, already with severe heart disease..

Total cholesterol of 112 last test. LDL at 55, HDL at 45. Right where my cardiologist wants it, except higher HDL would be nice.

deadmanwalking56,

Man I am sorry to hear about your having severe heart disease. What was your cholesterol like before medications?

Bobby:

My cholesterol total was about 190, with HDL at 37 and LDL at 137. That was a day or two prior to emergency triple bypass surgery. I'm the same weight, about 158, and 6 feet, fit. That was 4 years ago. I have some limitations, but not too many.

Near daily moderate exercise and low fat diet seem to be keeping me healthy, and I am still working a 40 hour week, help around the house, do my own yard work.

I don't look like I am "the type" for early heart disease.

DMW

DMW,

So you are tall, lean, total cholesterol below 200, and self described as not looking like the type to have early heart disease. Yet you had to have triple bypass surgery. You are exactly the type person that boggles my mind, that causes me to wonder about the mystery of CVD.

Meanwhile, another guy with higher cholesterol than you and higher LDL than you has clean and clear arteries. This is the puzzle I hope to see solved in my lifetime.

I'm Curious. Have you ever had your Free unbound Triiodothyronine levels checked? What latitude do you live at? Do you know your 25 hydroxy D3 levels? What about your CRP? These are all questions that go thru my mind for guys like you.

Take care, Bobby

Bobby:

Are you a doctor ? I have not heard of most of those tests. My CRP numbers have been good.

I think it is mainly stress, food additives such as trans fats, drugs or cigarettes, even excessive exercise can jack up blood pressure to dangerous levels, and too little anti-oxidants in the diet.

Once arteries are damaged, and one's LDL is getting oxidized regularly, its just a matter of time before blockages get you in an organ, a limb, your brain, or heart.

I backed off on my exercise this summer, and had more stress at home. For two years I rarely used my nitro spray. Now its twice a day, once during exercise. Its only chest discomfort, but it did not used to be there. I think I might be working on what they call syndrome X, blockages in tiny heart arteries and collaterals.

My Cholesterol WAS under 200, now its barely 110.

DMW

DMW,

No, I am not a Doctor. I'm just a regular guy who saw his father suffer thru two quad bypasses and ultimately died of conjestive heart failure. I have strong interests in diet and health studies, and human physiology.

Eight years ago I was injured by a cholesterol lowering drug, then witnessed friends and family suffer from them. This led me into studies on the matter of cholesterol drugs and heart disease.

While genetics plays a role in all of this, I agree with your statements about stress, food additives, drugs and cigarettes affecting our cardiovascular health. yet the mystery of the underlying cause of heart disease remains largely unsolved.

While the world stays focused on cholesterol levels as the cause, I am the type of guy to look in places where most others don't. I study hormones and how they might relate to calcification of the arteries. This for example takes me down paths such as Parathyroid hormone which regulates calcium, or vitamin D levels which directs calcium into bones instead of other tissues. Then there are thyroid hormones which regulate metabolic rate and how ones body uses its fuel. Even steroid hormones like testosterone and estrogens come into play. Hormonal balance is greatly effected by the lifestyle we live.

Your cholesterol levels are low. Half the people who have heart attacks have low to normal cholesterol levels. And almost half of first time heart attacks happen to people with LDL in the normal range. WHY?

Bobby

Just a quick comment, his LDL was above recommended levels and his HDL was below so it's a case where the total cholesterol number was good, but you have to look at the components involved as well.

In any case, I hope you do well DMW,

Tony

Tony:

Thanks, I am doing pretty well, all considering.

All my life, I had to exercise since my strength drifts down too much if I don't do something about it. So from that life long habit, now it helps manage my heart disease. I'm no longer an athlete, but can at least exercise regularly, and my fitness level creeps slowly upwards still.

I've got dull taste buds, so changing my diet is not a big deal unless I'm sharing meals with others. A cheat for me is a cookie. Usually with oatmeal or chocolate or both, so something good with it anyway.

Getting angina from an inappropriate food is a blessing. my limits are so tight, I know what not to eat, and don't "cheat". For most folks a cheat day makes them worry a little. I'll get angina that may not go away for hours. I get to really sense I may be killing part of my heart. My bypasses go to near the bottom of the artery trees, so the angle is too sharp for any more stents, except in the bypasses themselves.

Its fun for me to reply to someone commenting about how healthy I eat, that I have severe heart disease. They stammer and invariably tell me I don't look like I would have it. If they ask more about it, the more they hear the more they think they should change their diet. All seven people in my work group improved their diets after my emergency bypass surgery. Scared every one of them. Another co-worker lifted weights 3 times a week at home and ate almost a pound of sunflowers seeds daily, and was getting some chest pain DAILY. I told him to cut back to an ounce a day. His chest pain went away in a week. Another guy had ice cream every day as I had. He was getting some chest pain walking hills or stairs. When I told him I used to have some daily, too, he decided to stop. Once a week, and the same for his kids. When they complain, he tells them about my arteries. Now they accept a once a week treat.

The best part of my survival is other people changing.

When they transferred me from one ER to the other for the first angiogram, the 2nd ER team refused to believe I had walked in to the first ER. They said my arteries were so bad, they were cetain I had been bedridden and on oxygen. They asked my wife to stop lying to them. I had just gotten back from vacation to Central America where the angina first began occurring. In the angiogram, tiny collaterals were supplying nearly all my cardiac blood flow, making my heart more or less glow every beat with the radiographic dye. That surgery team said they had never seen that except in people having major heart attacks on the table. They said I must have been that way for months, and could not fathom I could function at all, let alone go on vacation or exercise everyday. I used a rowing machine 3 times a week for 40 minutes. I watched basketball games walking on my treadmill. But I did not always warm-up, or cool off properly. I've since learned that skipping a warm-up and cooldown adds stress to the heart, so now I always do them. No angina with exercise. I can even take my heart rate to 100% of my age maximum, or higher, for short periods, and no angina.

Anyway, considering they thought I should be dead, I'm doing very well. Considering my cardiologist gave my wife no answer when she asked how long the bypasses would help me, I'm doing great. That really upset her. He thought heart failure would set in. But my ejection fraction has gone from 53% to 73% in 4 years. Almost a poster boy for lifestyle changes, except I had no weight to lose. They asked me to try to gain weight since I am a bit too slim at 6'0" and 158 lbs.

I've enjoyed learning so much of how atherosclerosis works, and how to control it. Its a challenge to understand the whole thing, and try to control it and limit its progression. I have something new to teach or share that really can affect someone else's life.

I see it all as a blessing, for myself and others.

DMW

Just a great story, I admire the way you have dealt with your disease, very humbling for someone like myself that is just trying to prevent CAD to hear what you have been already been forced to deal with. I have tried to learn to stay healthy where you have to deal with the consequences every day, puts any worries I have into perspective.

I have been fortunate, I had a scare a few years ago which sent me down this road. I was fortunate, my issues ended up being a bad gallbladder, but it put the fear of CAD in me. I changed my lifestyle by altering my diet and started working out every day starting January 2, 2004 and only missed 3 weeks due to knee surgery. I have dropped 70 pounds (still could lose another 50), got my cholesterol well under control as well as my blood pressure to the point that my cardiologist is considering taking me off BP meds. I feel lucky.

You are an inspiration! Thanks for sharing.

Tony

Thanks, Tony.

I just eat healthy now. Its not really a big deal, unless I'm somewhere and there is nothing I can eat. In which case, I don't. better I drink some water and keep my blood pressure down. Even forgetting to drink often enough gives me an increase in BP.

Your weight loss is to be congratulated. A friend of mine needs to lose about 150 lbs. His CVD has started with Peripheral Artery Disease.