Cholesterol in women varies according to their hormonal rate and therefore it is more common for women to have the highest cholesterol level during pregnancy and menopause, and it is important to make adequate food, especially in these phases, in order to avoid complications and decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
High cholesterol usually does not cause symptoms and is diagnosed through a blood test that evaluates total cholesterol and its fractions (LDL, HDL and VLDL), as well as triglycerides. It is important to take this test at the most every 5 years, especially after age 30, or annually if there are risk factors for high cholesterol, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or during pregnancy, for example.
Cholesterol in pregnancy
Cholesterol begins to increase naturally during pregnancy from 16 weeks of gestation, and can reach twice the value that the woman had before she became pregnant. This is a normal change and many doctors do not get too worried about this increase because it tends to return to normal after the baby's birth.
But if the woman already had high cholesterol before becoming pregnant or if she is very overweight and also has high blood pressure, the doctor may be suspicious and indicate that the pregnant woman takes great care with her food to avoid complications during pregnancy and also to prevent the woman from maintaining high cholesterol after giving birth.
Here's what to do to control cholesterol in pregnancy.
Cholesterol in Menopause
Cholesterol also tends to increase at menopause, which is a normal and expected change. However, just like at any stage, very high rates of menopause cholesterol should be treated as they increase the risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack.
The lower level of cholesterol in women is due to the presence of estrogen in the bloodstream, and as estrogen declines dramatically after age 50, it is at this time that cholesterol tends to increase in women.
The treatment in this case can be done through hormone replacement therapy for 6 months. If cholesterol levels do not normalize, the woman should be referred to the cardiologist or endocrinologist for the initiation of specific therapy that may include the use of medications.
Causes of High Cholesterol in Women
The main cause of increased cholesterol in women is the hormonal changes that occur mainly in pregnancy and menopause, but in addition the use of the contraceptive pill, corticosteroids and anabolics also contribute to high cholesterol. Other factors that also increase cholesterol in women are:
- Hereditary factor;
- Hypothyroidism;
- Uncontrolled diabetes;
- Obesity;
- Renal insufficiency;
- Alcoholism and
- Sedentary lifestyle.
When a woman has any of these conditions, she is at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack or stroke, so the cholesterol-lowering treatment should be started early before age 50 or as soon as cholesterol is found to be altered.
Initially, the treatment consists of a change in eating habits associated with the practice of physical activity. If rates still remain high after 3 months of lifestyle change, it is recommended to start specific cholesterol-lowering medication.
How to treat
Treatment for cholesterol in women can be done with:
- Diet for cholesterol;
- Physical activity practice;
- Use of medications.
It is recommended to take medications, usually when LDL (bad cholesterol) cholesterol is above 130 mg / dL, and when it is not controlled solely by diet change and physical activity. Treatment for high cholesterol during pregnancy can be done with an appropriate diet and the only drug that can be used at this stage is Cholestyramine.
Women with high cholesterol should be very cautious when using the contraceptive pill, especially those based on progesterone, because it increases cholesterol even more, increasing the risk of heart disease and heart attack.
Reference values for cholesterol
The normal cholesterol limit values for any adult are:
| Type of cholesterol | Adults over 20 years |
| Total cholesterol | less than 190 mg / dl |
| HDL cholesterol (good) | greater than 40 mg / dl |
| LDL (bad) cholesterol | less than 130 mg / dl - low cardiovascular risk * less than 100 mg / dl - intermediate cardiovascular risk * less than 70 mg / dl - high cardiovascular risk * less than 50 mg / dl - very high cardiovascular risk * |
Non-HDL Cholesterol (sum of LDL, VLDL and IDL) | less than 160 mg / dl - low cardiovascular risk * less than 130 mg / dl - intermediate cardiovascular risk * less than 100 mg / dl - high cardiovascular risk * less than 80 mg / dl - very high cardiovascular risk * |
| Triglycerides | less than 150 mg / dl - fasting less than 175 mg / dl - not fasting |
To better understand what each type of cholesterol means and the reference values, check out what types of cholesterol.
