Anyone else with very low cholesterol?

[SJCzar]

I've always had low cholesterol. The last time I had it checked I had finally increased into the low 130's. I don't always eat that healthy. My mother had high cholestrol and she was very fussy about eating healthy. I figure that as I get older it will probably keep creeping up so I'm glad it's low for now.

My husband on the other hand has high cholesterol, but his good is so high that they're not concerned about his overall total .... and of course he eats way too much junk food and isn't much for exercising so where all those good levels come from I have no idea.

[emily_in_nc]

Emily,

I have a very rare form of migraines (insert incredibly long, yet impressive sounding, medical term) which make me an extremely high stroke risk. My migraine aura mimicks a stroke. We were actually suprised that it took me so long to have a full stroke. I had several TIAs throughout the years. Looking back we think I suffered my first small stroke when I was 30.

Long story cut very short, for me, my stroke risk is associated directly with what is going on (or not properly going on in my brain) due to my form of migraines. There is no test that can predict when I will have another, although it is known that I will.

My cholestrol played no part in my past strokes or TIAs.

As I mentioned earlier, my husband flunked all his cholesterol tests and was classified as a solid. (As an example, his "good" cholestrol turned bad and his tgriglyceride level was 450) He was 36 at the time of those tests. We eat the same foods, I exercise a heck of a lot more. Even with exercise he has to take medication to lower his. He recently found out all his family members have to take medication for their cholesterol. None have any other health issues.

I personally do not like to rely too much on internet health info I personally have seen a lot of misinformation so I tend to no longer look.

If you are concerned, and you sound like you are, I highly recommend going to see a specialist. If nothing else it will put your mind at ease.

Hopefully this made some sense. I am behind on my caffeine intake.

Edited to add: I forgot to mention I am on anti-seizure meds, which also play a part in my body chemistry. My medical background is a neurological nightmare at times. I think all toll it is amazing I am inas good of shape as I am.

Jennifer,

Thanks for your detailed response! Wow, you have really been through a lot. I'm so sorry. I feel very blessed to have as good health as I do. And actually, I'm not that concerned, just interested...I don't think there are any tests they can do to show a higher tendency towards hemmorhagic strokes, unfortunately. They have just been found to be twice as likely in folks with cholesterol below 180, and mine is 145. A blood vessel bursting is not something that can be predicted; it just happens, and when it does, it is obviously a medical emergency. I will talk to my primary care doc when I next see her, but I'm not in a panic. I'm just trying to be an informed medical consumer and be aware that although most people might "admire" my low cholesterol, it's not necessarily without risks at this level.....

I do appreciate all the responses here. It's all very interesting. I'm just one of these curious types who does lots of research about stuff, and I've always been very interested in medical stuff, wanted to be a doctor when I was growing up, stuff like that, so I pay more attention to test results than the average Joe, I think.

Emily

[Geonz]

I'd want to know where that data came from (the "double the risk" stuff). I've heard that low cholesterol was bad - but low as in 90, not 140-ish. Mine was up from 140 to 156 last time I had it checked; the nurse said "come back in five years." Just 'cause somebody's right about a couple of things doesn't mean I'd trust that individual to draw the right conclusions about other thigns; I'd want to know what they were basing it on. Let's face it, there could be somethign in any given supplement that's a risk factor, too.

[emily_in_nc]

I'd want to know where that data came from (the "double the risk" stuff).

High cholesterol is a well-known risk factor for stroke. But new research suggests that low levels of cholesterol in the blood may also increase stroke risk. The study linking low cholesterol to increased stroke risk was presented recently at the 24th American Heart Association Conference on Stroke and Cerebral Circulation which was discussed in last week’s newsletter. About 80% of all strokes are ischemic, and 20% are hemorrhagic.

The researchers compared the cholesterol levels of the stroke patients to 3,700 other people in the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound who had not had a stroke. They found that as an individual's cholesterol level rose above 230 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL), their risk of ischemic stroke increased. For example, a person with a cholesterol level of 280 mg/dL had twice the risk of ischemic stroke as a person with 230 mg/dL.

But the researchers also found that as cholesterol dropped, the risk of -hemorrhagic stroke increased significantly. A person with a cholesterol level below 180 mg/dL had twice the risk of that type of stroke compared with someone at 230 mg/dL.

About 10% of the population have cholesterol levels below 180 mg/dL. It is not clear if the cholesterol is indeed the cause of the stroke, or related to some other cardiovascular factor that is responsible. High cholesterol levels probably increase blockages.

The theory with low cholesterol is that it is necessary to maintain integrity of the vessel wall. Low levels of cholesterol might lead to "leaky vessels." The Japanese have typically low cholesterol levels and a higher than average rate of hemorrhagic stroke.

Source: http://www.mercola.com/1999/archive/low_cholesterol.htm