The norm of cholesterol in the blood in women

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

To check a woman's cholesterol level corresponds to the norm of the table by age, the easiest way is to do a biochemical analysis. For the accuracy of the indicators, blood is taken on an empty stomach from a vein.

"Bad" and "good" cholesterol

Before decoding the indicators after taking blood from a vein on an empty stomach and their compliance with the standards of the table by age for women, you need to understand the theory.

Cholesterol is a very beneficial compound that serves a number of functions:

• provides the production of sex hormones;
• the main component of vitamin D, as well as transport for fat-soluble vitamins A, E, K;
• participates in the formation of bile acids, helping to break down fats;
• transfers fats in the blood;
• helps to transmit nerve impulses to neurons.

Cholesterol binds to proteins. If a dense formation (HDL - high density lipoprotein) is formed, it is able to penetrate the cell membranes and perform all its functions.

If a more bulky molecule is obtained (LDL - low density lipoprotein), then it simply forms plaques on the walls of the vessels.

It is LDL - the very “bad” cholesterol that doctors warn about. Its accumulation leads to a violation of the capacity of blood vessels, atherosclerosis. Accordingly, fasting blood sampling from a vein is carried out to determine its level according to the table of age norms for women. And then using a special formula, you can calculate the risk of cardiovascular pathologies.

Tabular norms

In medicine, there are many cholesterol tests. For example, with diagnosed atherosclerosis, a lipid profile is prescribed, which allows obtaining the most accurate data. However, much more often the study is limited to taking blood from a vein on an empty stomach. Then the material is sent for biochemical analysis, and the results are compared with the norm from the table by age for women:

Age	Total cholesterol (mol / L)	Acceptable cholesterol during pregnancy (mol / l)	HDL (mol / L)	LDL (mol / l)
Up to 20	3, 1-5, 9	10, 5	0, 13-1, 3	1, 55-3, 89
Up to 40	3, 1-7, 0	11-12	0, 78-1, 85	1, 55-4, 1
Up to 60	3, 9-8, 5	12-13	0, 78-2, 07	2, 07-5, 7
Over 60	4, 1-8, 5	-	0, 78-2, 20	2, 59-5, 5

Total cholesterol is HDL, LDL, and free molecules not yet bound to proteins. Due to pregnancy, this indicator can increase several times simply because fats are necessary for energy metabolism and are actively involved in the development of the fetus. But if the indicator exceeds the peak values indicated in the table, you need to urgently seek help from the antenatal clinic.

Causes of increased cholesterol levels

If a woman has a high content of HDL in her blood, then doctors can only be happy for her, saying that everything is fine with her heart and there is nothing to worry about. But an increase in the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood is already a sign of pathology, which will soon manifest itself through poor physical and emotional well-being.

This can happen for several reasons:

1. Heredity. According to research by geneticists, if the older generation has problems with cholesterol, then with a probability of up to 70% they will be passed on to their offspring.
2. Diseases. First of all, the pathologies of the liver, heart and kidneys affect the level of LDL. However, the list of possible causes is much longer and only a doctor can accurately diagnose the disease that caused the jump in indicators.
3. Nutrition. Contrary to popular belief, it is dangerous not only to consume a lot of fast food and fatty foods. Cholesterol also rises when the diet is low in fat.
4. Bad habits. Smoking and alcohol increase cholesterol levels. This is true even for fans of red wine and people who are often in smoking rooms, even if they do not use tobacco themselves.
5. Age. After menopause, due to changes in hormonal levels, there is a sharp increase in LDL cholesterol.
6. Physical inactivity. Office work, a minimum of activity in your free time provoke not only obesity and joint problems, but also an increase in cholesterol levels.
7. Stress. Psychological problems, physical stress, changing climatic conditions can also affect the composition of the blood.
8. Medicines. Long-term use of medications, especially without a doctor's prescription, often leads to impaired kidney and liver function, and, consequently, to an increase in cholesterol levels.

LDL levels also rise by 10% during each period. This is a natural feature of female metabolism.

Usually, the indicator returns to normal on its own at the end of the cycle. If this does not happen or there is another reason due to which the cholesterol has increased, then you must definitely visit a doctor and find out how to fix the situation. This is the best protection against heart attack and stroke at 60 years old.