Question: What happens to cholesterol level when a woman reaches menopause? Is there any risk involved if one has low Total cholesterol but low HDL level? So what level of HDL and LDL should a woman have?
Menopause and Cholesterol Levels
HDL cholesterol production drops as a woman reaches menopause because the estrogen level has already declined in a natural manner. So the natural protection against plaque build-up has come to an end. Studies have found that a woman’s risk of heart disease rises greatly if the HDL levels dip even a little.
Low Total Cholesterol and Low HDL
Even if a woman has low Total cholesterol she can be at risk of heart disease when she has low HDL levels. So you should know your HDL level to determine if 250mg/dL cholesterol reading is really safe. HDL is a more precise and accurate indicator of heart disease than total cholesterol alone.
In general women should have HDL higher than 55mg/dL and LDL lower than 130mg/dL. It is very important to know the ratio of Total cholesterol to HDL in the blood. The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL levels should not exceed 6:1. The risk of heart disease increases if the ratio is higher. The LDL to HDL ratio should not exceed 4:1.