Too low cholesterol?

Options
crzycatlady1
crzycatlady1 Posts: 1,930 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm several years into maintenance now and currently at a slightly higher maintenance weight then I was last October (current bmi right around 22/last year it was closer to 21). For my husband's work health benefits we have to have a basic blood panel done every October and I just got mine back this morning, and I'm a little concerned about my cholesterol numbers. Last October my total cholesterol was 163. The new results total is 143. I've never had that low of a number and vaguely remember reading something about too low cholesterol numbers tied to higher mortality rates?

HDL dropped from the 60s to 55, and LDL dropped from 90s to 84. Ratio is a 2.6 vs 2.4 last year (less than 5 is desirable ). Otherwise everything else looks good-glucose stayed within a couple points at 95, blood pressure was great, waist measures at a 25 (same as last year ) etc. Should I be concerned about the lower cholesterol number?

Replies

  • bigmuney
    bigmuney Posts: 284 Member
    Options
    Mines 116
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,576 Member
    Options
    If you had a health exam the results should have let you know if there was something to be concerned about.
  • vanmep
    vanmep Posts: 406 Member
    Options
    Cholesterol, in spite of the bad rap it gets, is actually required by the body to help build cell membranes, produce hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids. And it is also important for your neurological function. My cholesterol is regularly tracked related to medical issues. One year my doctor was concerned that it might be too low and he sent me to a specialist for a consultation. I don't know how your numbers work as we have a different system, but if that is low, you might want to check with your doctor.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    Options
    HDL going down is mildly (very mildly) concerning, but yours is still in a good spot. I wouldn't worry about LDL going down since it was probably taken from your total cholesterol, which is a pretty useless test.
  • crzycatlady1
    crzycatlady1 Posts: 1,930 Member
    Options
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    If you had a health exam the results should have let you know if there was something to be concerned about.

    I had an annual physical this past spring and nothing came up out of ordinary, though I didn't have blood work done then. My previous years blood work was so good that my doctor didn't feel the need for me to have it done again this spring, since nothing in my health had changed.

    The low cholesterol number just threw me off-my numbers for the past few years, since I lost the extra weight, have been very similar. For cholesterol to drop that much caught me off guard.
  • crzycatlady1
    crzycatlady1 Posts: 1,930 Member
    Options
    vanmep wrote: »
    Cholesterol, in spite of the bad rap it gets, is actually required by the body to help build cell membranes, produce hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids. And it is also important for your neurological function. My cholesterol is regularly tracked related to medical issues. One year my doctor was concerned that it might be too low and he sent me to a specialist for a consultation. I don't know how your numbers work as we have a different system, but if that is low, you might want to check with your doctor.

    My medical history has been more about high glucose numbers, but cholesterol hasn't really ever been an issue. My cholesterol numbers weren't stellar when I was overweight, but they didn't raise flags (glucose number was in the pre-diabetes range though back then and that's what prompted me to lose weight). Cholesterol has always kinds been in the background for me, so to have it drop by that much made me do a double take lol.

    I may call my doctor's office and just let them know I had new blood work done and see if they want me to forward them the results. Of course my doctor just moved to a different office so I've been assigned to a new one that I haven't met yet :/
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    Options
    My HDL is at the lower end of normal. My doctor said there's no concern because my LDL is low as are my triglycerides. He said he'd trade his numbers for mine any day.
  • crzycatlady1
    crzycatlady1 Posts: 1,930 Member
    Options
    Psychgrrl wrote: »
    My HDL is at the lower end of normal. My doctor said there's no concern because my LDL is low as are my triglycerides. He said he'd trade his numbers for mine any day.

    I didn't get my triglycerides this time-last spring when my total cholesterol was in the 160s they were in the 40s though. Now I'm really curious to see how they've changed as well lol.

    I'm probably worrying for nothing, it just surprised me to see numbers change so much since things had been so similar for the last few years. Maybe it's just because I'm getting old :p
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,576 Member
    Options
    crzycatlady1 wrote: »
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    If you had a health exam the results should have let you know if there was something to be concerned about.

    I had an annual physical this past spring and nothing came up out of ordinary, though I didn't have blood work done then. My previous years blood work was so good that my doctor didn't feel the need for me to have it done again this spring, since nothing in my health had changed.

    The low cholesterol number just threw me off-my numbers for the past few years, since I lost the extra weight, have been very similar. For cholesterol to drop that much caught me off guard.

    Your blood work was so good that your doctor said you didn't need it done again this year?!? How the heck does the doctor know nothing has changed in your health if no tests are run?

Categories