A substance such as cholesterol plays an important role in the human body. Any deviations of its level from the accepted norm entail various negative consequences. Statistics show that most often it is an increased concentration of lipids. We hear about the dangers of high cholesterol very often. However, in some cases, low blood cholesterol in men is detected. In this case, you should pay attention to the fact that the causes of this deviation will differ from the factors that provoke an increase in indicators. In this article, you can familiarize yourself with the causes of low blood cholesterol in men, as well as with the features of the treatment of this pathology.
Causes
An underestimated cholesterol in the stronger sex is commonly called hypocholesterolemia. Low blood cholesterol in men can occur due to the following phenomena and pathologies:
- Liver disease. The bulk of fats, as a rule, is produced in this particular organ, due to which deviations will indicate a malfunction in the functioning of the liver.
- Improper nutrition. When a person constantly eats foods that contain a small amount of lipids, as well as a large amount of easily digestible carbohydrates, men have low cholesterol in their blood.
- Deficiency of minerals and vitamins in the human body. The cause of low blood cholesterol in men may be an insufficient amount of nutrients due to malnutrition. In addition, various pathologies of the digestive system that interfere with the absorption of nutrients can contribute to this.
- Frequent severe stress. When the human body experiences a nervous strain for a long time, then it begins to produce adrenaline, which helps to reduce cholesterol in the blood.
- Thyroid disease. Such ailments are another cause of low blood cholesterol in men. The fact is that with a disturbed hormonal background, this indicator begins to deviate.
- Infectious diseases. If an infection gets in a person, a fever begins, signs of anemia appear. This provokes a decrease in blood cholesterol in men.
You should also pay attention to the fact that some hereditary disease may be a predisposing factor in the development of hypocholesterolemia.
Symptoms
As for the norm, the level of cholesterol in the blood in men should be at least 3 and not more than 5.4 mmol per liter. If there are any deviations from the norm, then in the human body cells and tissues experience severe stress, lose useful substances that are necessary for their full life.
Various laboratory tests are used to detect low blood cholesterol in men. However, the development of this pathology can be suspected by certain symptoms. Deviations from the permissible norm of blood cholesterol in men are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Deterioration of the reactions of the human body.
- Muscle weakness.
- Decreased desire to eat food, as well as a complete lack of appetite.
- Swollen lymph nodes in size.
- Violation of the sexual function of men.
- Irritability.
In addition, the patient begins to complain about a change in the consistency of his feces. At the same time, they are interspersed with oils and fat. This is due to defective absorption of lipids that come with food.
Possible complications
You need to know how to increase blood cholesterol in men. If a person does not take the necessary measures, then various kinds of complications may arise. The most common consequences of low lipid counts are the following:
- Depressive state.
- A sharp increase in body weight.
- Severe disturbances in the endocrine system, which lead to hormonal imbalance.
- The development of infertility due to a lack of sex hormones in the body.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Circulatory failure. The most dangerous is the violation of blood flow in the brain, which can trigger the development of hemorrhagic stroke.
- Diabetes.
- Vitamin deficiency.
- Osteoporosis, which occurs due to excessive excretion of calcium from the male body.
Please note that complications of an underestimated indicator can be very difficult for a man, to cope with which in some cases can be quite difficult or even impossible. That is why it is worth constantly checking the amount of cholesterol in your blood with the help of laboratory tests.
How to pass the analysis and prepare for it?
A laboratory study is carried out by the method of blood sampling from a vein in a man. After that, the analysis is studied under a microscope, during which the amount of good, total and bad cholesterol is revealed. An analysis is performed, usually on an empty stomach, in the morning. Experts also advise you not to eat food twelve hours before this procedure. Only tea or water is allowed.
The day before the test, you can also not engage in physical education, take alcoholic beverages, go to the bath or sauna. One hour before the test, you should stop smoking. Before the blood sampling itself, you should sit for at least fifteen minutes, due to which the heartbeat will normalize.
If the patient uses any medications, this should be immediately told to a specialist.
How to normalize the indicator?
If a man has lowered blood cholesterol, then this pathology should be immediately eliminated. The endocrinologist should deal with the appointment of treatment. In addition to a blood test, the specialist also conducts an additional study to determine the cause of this pathology.
Medications
In no case should you choose drugs on your own to adjust the cholesterol content, since irrational intervention can provoke a deterioration in the general condition of a man.
There is no medicine that affects blood cholesterol to increase it. It is necessary to cure the underlying disease that provoked hypocholesterolemia, and symptomatic manifestations should also be corrected.
Diet
The doctor prescribes a special menu that aims to increase the intake of wholesome foods with a high lipid index, as well as to reduce the level of consumption of easily digestible carbohydrates. There are products that increase blood cholesterol in men. These include the following:
- Egg yolks.
- Fish, beef liver, tongue, brains.
- Seafood.
- Walnuts, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds.
- Olive oil.
- Butter.
- Cheese.
It is best to bake products, cook steamed dishes, and also eat raw. During frying, only olive oil should be used in the pan. If you competently combine food, you can get the maximum benefit to raise your blood cholesterol.
So that when you try to increase the indicator so as not to overdo it, and also not to worsen the situation, you should introduce vitamin C rich foods into your diet. The fact is that this vitamin weakens the effects of bad cholesterol. Therefore, in your diet should be a place for citrus fruits, decoction of wild rose, blackcurrant, mountain ash and sauerkraut.
You can safely increase cholesterol in your blood with a carrot diet. Its essence is quite simple: consume a maximum of carrots, as well as carrot juice, but provided that you do not have an allergic reaction to this vegetable.
What is not allowed?
A diet with low blood cholesterol also includes the exclusion of certain foods from the diet. These include the following:
- Cereals.
- Pasta.
- Sweets.
- Bakery products.
If possible, the use of alcohol should also be completely eliminated. It must be remembered that excessive consumption of fatty foods that are rich in cholesterol will harm the body of a man.
Eating large amounts of fat is a big mistake. It is worth remembering that cholesterol can be not only useful, but also harmful to the body. The goal in this case is to increase beneficial cholesterol.
Do not forget that, in addition to following a diet, patients should give up smoking. Ideally, you should play sports, but in moderation.
The level of cholesterol in the blood can constantly change. At the same time, the danger is not only high, but also low.
To summarize
In conclusion, it is worth noting that if you have found a decrease in blood cholesterol, then you must adhere to all the recommendations of a doctor. Low cholesterol can lead to rather sad consequences. That is why, after identifying it, you need to seriously take care of your own health. In order to prevent, experts recommend at least once every six months to donate blood for analysis.